As Nigeria joined the world in marking the 2021 World Environment Day, stakeholders have raised awareness on the need for restoration of the ecosystem; thereby resetting nature; HELEN OJI reports
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 5th June of every year World Environment Day to raise awareness on the importance of the environment to human survival and general wellbeing of our planet. The theme for this year’s celebration which is “Ecosystem Restoration – Resetting our Relation with Nature”, was carefully chosen to reflect the startling existential realities as evidenced by the imbalances being experienced in the ecosystem, hence a clarion call for urgent action.
Provide livelihood
The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, reiterate the fact that the environment provides the condition for all living organisms, including man and both fauna and flora to operate, in addition to providing livelihoods for their survival.
“The ecosystem essentially relates to the biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. it is unambiguous that there exists a strong nexus between environment and ecosystem, and the two remain fundamental factors to human wellbeing and the survival of our planet.
However, man’s interaction with nature, coupled with the challenges and impacts of climate change, has grossly exacerbated the deleterious state of the environment. Even, the terrestrial and marine ecosystems are not spared. It is instructive that the world population especially Africa continues to increase geometrically, leading to an unprecedented competition for the available meagre resources for survival.
He stated that other endemic factors such as poverty, food shortage, high unemployment rate, and recently COVID-19 pandemic have significantly worsened the ecosystem, resulting in weak resilience and adaptation, thereby “denying us of its invaluable services”.
Dr. Abubabak added that “the need to redress these adversities underscores this important Day worldwide. It is an opportunity we should endeavour to leverage as we shift attention to the Nature Based Solution to climate change adaptation and resilience. This is expected to afford us the needed restoration and also the much-needed sustainable development goals including security, water, disaster risk reduction and livelihood improvement.
“The Federal Government, being conscious of the alarming rate of deforestation standing at between 3.7 to 4.0%, has continued to engage locally and internationally, in addition to the formulation of enabling policies and legislations aimed to bring the situation under control,” he stressed, he said.
He noted that the federal government has also commenced execution of nature-based programmes and projects to address the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss in view of their multiple benefits which includes among others, climate amelioration, improved ecosystem services, enhanced water security, enhanced food security (especially through Agroforestry, improved soil organic carbon and water retention, improved productivity and resilience), disaster risk reduction, and improved nature-based jobs and livelihoods.
“The just concluded National Council on Environment, the issue of Nature Based Solution was at the front burner. This came as a result of the renewed awareness on its cost effectiveness in the long-term management of ecosystem crises and its potential contribution to the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). It is also expected to facilitate the National and Global targets including the 2030 Development agenda that Nigeria is already making steady progress.
He stated further that the practical demonstration of its commitment to the Paris Agreement on global action on climate crisis, submitted its NDC Interim Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) few days ago. “This action underscores the determination to achieve the commitment we signed in 2015 to reduce Nigeria’s carbon emissions unconditionally by 20 percent and 45 percent conditionally with international support by 2030. The submission is also to fulfill the requirements for competing in the 2021 Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) Call for Proposal.
“Restoring the ecosystem is an opportunity explorable by man if the current dangerous trend must be reversed. It indeed, requires resetting our attitude and relation with nature.”
Setting the pace
“The federal government made some efforts at all levels of governance to promote resilient environmental sustainability in the context of national development. These initiatives include, among others: promoting enabling policy environment; strengthening institutional capacity; building partnerships and participating in global initiation; and implementing special initiatives and actions.
Key strategic interventions
Sustainable Management of Critical Wetlands Ecosystems and watershed for environmental sustainability across the country, entailing restoration of the degraded ecosystems within the wetland areas, mitigation of adverse effects of soil and land degradation, livelihoods improvement, and local empowerment. On-going National Afforestation Programme across all the ecological zones of the country including the establishment of Great Green Wall across the frontline States with other associated programmes such as sensitization and awareness creation, promotion of dryland agricultural technology, provision of water for irrigation and domestic uses, development of grazing resources, promotion of alternative and sustainable sources of energy, promotion of alternative means of livelihoods as well as creation of enabling environment for the development of agro-based industries. Others include: reforestation of degraded forest reserves and other landscapes, four hectares of forest plantation in this State, precisely at Ago Owu forest reserve in Irewole Local Government Area. In the same vein, awareness creation and advocacy targeting local and larger communities, schools and other stakeholders, has also just been concluded in the State. Coastal/Mangrove ecosystem restoration in which efforts have been made and are still underway to protect the fragile mangroves via programmes such as Mangrove for Life Program and Mangrove Ecosystem Livelihood Group (MELAG) of the Commonwealth Action Group, all aimed at mangrove conservation and restoration as well as coastal erosion reduction. Strategic campaign, advocacy and awareness creation on forestry, wildlife and biodiversity conservation in schools, forest dependent communities in some states of the federation. Hydrocarbon and pollution remediation projects to address the issue of hydrocarbon and other pollution emanating from oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta. Recognising the importance of creating an enabling and policy environment in tackling environmental and climate change challenges.
“The Ministry has made tremendous efforts, through development of policies and building institutional and legislative capacity, to enhance effective and far-reaching actions to tackle deforestation, drought, desertification, climate change and other related ones and reduce their impacts on the citizenry. Some of the policies and actions include the National Forest Policy; the National Drought and Desertification Policy; the National Drought Plan; National Environment Policy; the Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy; the National REDD+ Strategy; the Establishment of National Forestry Trust Fund; etc.
“On the global front, Nigeria through the Ministry has continued to maintain partnerships, collaborations and intergovernmental coalitions on the implementation of various International Conventions, Treaties and Agreements to which Nigeria is a Signatory. Some of the most recent of these coalitions are the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People; the Global Ocean Alliance, the Blue Leaders Campaign, and the COP26 Dialogue on Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT). The FACT Dialogue culminated in a joint statement by about 28 countries on principles for collaboration. The joint statement inter alia, acknowledges that Agricultural commodities are important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, notably promoting economic development, reducing poverty, food security, and improving the livelihoods of billions of people. At the same time, expanding areas for unsustainable agricultural production and other forms of land degradation may pose critical challenges to our environment, sustainability of forests and other important terrestrial ecosystems, increasing emissions, reducing resilience to climate impacts, and contributing to biodiversity loss. Nigeria, through the Ministry identifies with the Statement as signed by me because it is a true reflection of our position and in tandem with our development programme.”
Restore ecological systems
Also speaking on World Environment Day, the Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, called for the protection and restoration of ecological systems.
According to him, Nigeria must take concrete steps such as urgently quitting addiction to fossil fuels, stopping promotion and use of pesticides and herbicides, risky genetic engineering technology, and massive destruction of ecosystems through reckless exploitation of nature.
Bassey said: “One would have to be totally insensitive not to recognise that we are in a state of multiple environmental crises in the world today. No wonder many of the United Nations Days celebrations, such as the World Environment Day, are all hinged on restoring the environment.”
He noted that “The theme reinforces our conviction that something is wrong with our environment and all hands must be on deck to save it. For Nigeria, the message is that it must wean itself of fossil fuels addiction and transit to clean and safe community-driven renewable forms of energy that ensures harmony with nature.”
He added that the resilience of the community of life and the well-being of humanity depends on preserving a healthy biosphere with all its ecological systems protected and preserved for the benefit of present and future generations.
The 2021 World Environment Day emphasises the importance of partnership at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature as humans are completely dependent on ecosystems for good health, water, food, medicines, clothes, shelter, and energy.
The organisation disclosed in a statement: “HOMEF believes that the health of humans and the health of the planet is One Health.”
Stop invading forest ecosystems
HOMEF’s Volunteer Coordinator Magdalene Idiang said: “This is why we have to stop invading forest ecosystems, destroying homes of species and manipulating plants and animals for profit and by so doing, creating conditions for new diseases and pandemics.”
She warned that the use of poisons and agro-toxins, such as pesticides and herbicides, to kill pests and weeds lead to desertification, pollution of water, soil and air, and destruction of biodiversity.
Aside the practice of using agro-toxins, the agricultural sector is suffering from increased campaign for the adoption of genetic engineering technology in crop and animal breeding, Idiang noted, adding that the technology erodes biodiversity, disrupts ecosystems, and undermines food systems.
HOMEF notes that the dominant pattern of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources, the extinction and disappearance of species and the climate emergency being experienced. It urges the respect of planetary boundaries, ecosystem and species integrity as crucial steps in protecting and restoring ecosystems.
“To restore ecosystems, the government and the public must stop harmful environmental practices and put an end to deforestation, industrial pollution, promotion of genetic modification of crops and use of toxic chemicals.
“World Environment Day is a day of action and not mere talk.”
