As Nigeria grapples with rising threats to its wealthy biodiversity, consultants are urging a extra inclusive method to wildlife safety, one which not solely conserves endangered species and fragile ecosystems but additionally addresses the financial realities of native communities.
Consultants emphasise that with many rural populations counting on forest assets for survival, conservation efforts that ignore their wants danger fuelling battle and undermining long-term sustainability.
Sunday Fagbemi, a professor of environmental legislation and improvement, on the College of Ibadan, talking at a digital public lecture on ‘Wildlife, Legislation, and Livelihoods: Strengthening Authorized Frameworks for Conservation in Nigeria’ organised by Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria (PCGN), underscored the ecological, cultural, and financial significance of wildlife.
Fagbemi emphasised that from ecological stability to meals safety and conventional values, wildlife stays a vital useful resource for each nature and communities.
Nonetheless, he cautioned that unsustainable practices, together with habitat destruction, poaching, and the unlawful wildlife commerce, are pushing many species towards extinction.
“In Nigeria, wildlife isn’t solely a supply of cultural id but additionally tied to rural livelihoods, with bush-meat looking and commerce nonetheless prevalent. “This twin actuality creates a stress between livelihood wants and conservation imperatives, making legislation an indispensable device to reconcile the 2,” he stated.
He reiterated that Nigeria has established a complete authorized and institutional framework for wildlife conservation, grounded in each home and worldwide devices.
Nonetheless, Fagbemi careworn that regardless of these provisions, the implementation of legal guidelines stays weak.
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“Companies face underfunding, corruption, insufficient manpower, and political interference. Penalties for offenders are sometimes too lenient, whereas communities proceed to rely on unsustainable exploitation of wildlife,” he famous.
Pointing the best way ahead, he stated that wildlife represents not solely a pure heritage but additionally an ethical and obligation.
Therefore, he emphasised that to safe Nigeria’s biodiversity for future generations, the nation should undertake an built-in method that mixes conservation with livelihood improvement.
Olajumoke Morenikeji, chair on the Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria, defined that Nigeria is one in all Africa’s richest nations when it comes to biodiversity, internet hosting endangered species such because the Cross River gorilla, pangolins, and manatees, but these treasures are below severe menace from deforestation, poaching, and unlawful commerce.
She advocates for stronger conservation legal guidelines to stop the extinction of those species and safeguard the ecosystems that maintain human life.
“Human beings can’t exist with out their surroundings, together with wildlife, as a result of it scientifically helps us by means of oxygen manufacturing, water purification, pollination, local weather regulation, and nutrient biking.
“These pure processes make life attainable, whereas forests, rivers, and species additionally present meals, drugs, cultural id, and revenue for tens of millions. When biodiversity collapses, farming, fishing, tourism, and conventional methods of residing additionally decline, thereby undermining the survival and dignity of native communities,” she stated.
Apart from, Morenikeji emphasised that weak and outdated legal guidelines make wildlife crime worthwhile, fueling trafficking networks and depriving frontline communities of incentives to guard nature.
This lack of authorized safety, she stated, exacerbates poverty, battle, and environmental degradation.
“By modernising and implementing legal guidelines, Nigeria can cut back crime, empower communities, and promote sustainable, nature-based livelihoods.
“Furthermore, environmental destruction worsens local weather change, desertification, and meals insecurity, creating dangers for peace and nationwide safety. Strengthening authorized frameworks is subsequently not solely an ecological necessity but additionally a socio-economic and safety crucial,” she famous.
She stated that Nigeria as a signatory to international treaties resembling CITES, has a world accountability to guide in wildlife safety.
“Stronger home legal guidelines won’t solely improve Nigeria’s international fame but additionally entice worldwide help and funding, securing a extra sustainable and affluent future,” she emphasised.
To realize numerous wildlife values, Morenikeji known as for an built-in administration method, stating that efficient wildlife administration requires an built-in method that mixes conservation efforts with sustainable livelihood improvement.
Apart from, she stated that empowering native communities by means of participation in decision-making, profit sharing, and sustainable useful resource administration is essential.
As well as, she advisable investing in legislation enforcement capability, enhancing monitoring and surveillance, and guaranteeing neighborhood participation in enforcement efforts as important, amongst others.
To fight unlawful wildlife commerce, she stated addressing the unlawful commerce in wildlife merchandise is essential for shielding endangered species and combating organised crime.
“By recognising the varied values of wildlife and implementing efficient conservation methods, we will be sure that these vital animals proceed to play their very important roles in ecosystems and profit human societies for generations to return,” she stated.
