Conservations NG

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  • ‘WeNaturalists’: First-ever global digital ecosystem for nature lovers

    ‘WeNaturalists’: First-ever global digital ecosystem for nature lovers

    WeNaturalists, an online platform is innovating in the nature conservation space.

    The online platform provides a mobile and web application interface for people and organizations associated with nature with the aim of bringing together the organizations and professionals who work passionately for the betterment of planet.

    Founded by entrepreneur and nature enthusiast Amit Banka, in 2019, WeNaturalists is geared towards giving a purpose to people’s passion for nature.


    “WeNaturalists is the ecosystem that allows you to connect and interact with millions of people from around the world, find job opportunities in nature, manage long-term and short-term projects and much more. It caters to people from varied backgrounds like forest rangers, nature guides, environmentalists, conservationists, climate change specialists, wildlife and nature photographers, researchers, botanists and zoologists, academicians, media professionals, eco-businesses, organizations, institutions, and charities working towards education, conservation and eco-tourism, and many more,” the organisation explained in a statement obtained by ConservationsNG on Tuesday.


    “With an easy-to-use interface and custom-made tools, the mobile and web applications have been welcomed by the People of Nature from over 150 countries including Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, UK, USA, Canada, India since its launch in November 2020.


    “Bringing this community together for collective action is the most critical requirement of today, and WeNaturalists is making it a reality.


    “WeNaturalists can be distinguished by its vision to be an ecosystem with the potential to become a unified voice for nature, and a catalyst for key decisions and discussions that could determine the future of nature.”

    The Application


    The application is user-friendly and in addition to the common social features, there are many specialized tools like Circles, which is an exclusive invite-only community feature for like-minded people to engage; Explore, which aggregates global nature news in a single place; Projects, which helps in finding jobs or assignments or attending events or trainings; Storybook, where storytellers can catalogue their photos and videos in an interactive format; Experience Showcase, which is a visual timeline of the work done by someone on an assignment in collaboration with multiple people; Causes, where everyone believing in an environmental cause can express opinions, exchange solutions and talk about their work for that cause and many more features like forums, polls, private and public messaging rooms.

    World People of Nature Day


    On the same day, to honor the People of Nature, WeNaturalists introduced People of Nature Awards, which recognized individuals with path-breaking initiatives in climate action from all over the world. In its first edition in 2021, 10 people were awarded.


    The mobile application is now available on Google Play Store and Apple Store.

  • Panic Erupts in Changi Airport Singapore as Lions Break Free From their Container

    Panic Erupts in Changi Airport Singapore as Lions Break Free From their Container

    History repeated itself in Singapore on Sunday the 12th of December as two full grown lions thought to be part of a pride of seven lions escaped from their container in Changi airport while in transit to some “overseas facility”. 


    One of them was found laying on its travel crate.


    “A stand off ensued” at the Changi Airpot, the Strait Times, newspaper reported. This led to sedating the animals with a tranquilliser gun. They were then taken to the care of the Singapore zoo and are recovering from the effects of being sedated.


    Commenting on the need for the lions to be sedated, a representative from the Mandai Wildlife Group which is in charge of managing the Singapore Zoo and which was contacted by the Singapore Airlines (SIA) stated that “the sedation was required in order for the vets to safely transport the big cats to their facility in the North of the state and that all Lions have recovered adequately from the anaesthesia.” “Our veterinary and quarantine teams are closely monitoring the animals, making sure they are comfortabke” they further added


    Questions about the circumstances surrounding the shipment of the lions were only met by the response of the spokesperson of the Singapore Airlines (SIA) who restated earlier made comments that the lions “remained secured by the safety netting that was around the container during the entire time”


    SIA’s spokesperson also added that “while the incident is being investigated, the immediate priority is the well-being of the lions”. The airline also added that there was no disruption to its operations. Nevertheless there were no clarifications as to where the carnivores were coming from or where their destination was.


    Singapore is known to be a major conveyance point for wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia consequently its being named by the global wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC as being one of the world’s top ten illegal smuggling axis.


    As far apart and rare as the incidents have being, Singapore tends to have a record of exotic animals breaking free from their various enclosures. In 2004 Ramba the chimpanzee drowned in the Upper Seletar Reservoir after escaping from its cage in the Singapore zoo.


    In 2005 about 500 visitors were evacuated from the zoo after Angel, a jaguar escaped through its feeding tube. It was however sedated and recaptured half an hour later. In the same year an African Wild Cat strayed off the stage at the Night Safari during an animal show. 


    Ms Lin from Beijing was attacked by the wild cat, leaving her with a bleeding and swollen right foot.

    2014 saw an African Wild Dog escaping from its confines which lead to a temporary closure of the zoo’s front entrance while the zookeepers hunted down the Wild Dog half an hour later.

    One of the lions was found in its crate after two of them escaped at the Singapore airport
  • How a Bayelsa community is working with conservation experts to save the Niger Delta red colobus monkey

    How a Bayelsa community is working with conservation experts to save the Niger Delta red colobus monkey

    About 200 critically endangered Niger Delta red colobus monkeys are beneficiaries of a rare collaboration between a community and a conservation organization. This population of the monkey species is likely the most viable left in the world.

    The Apoi community of Bayelsa State and the Southwest Niger Delta Forest Project of the Foundation for Sustainability of Ecosystem, Wildlife and Climate (FOSEC) joined hands to establish a new 1,000-hectare (2,741-acre) community conservancy in the Apoi Creek Forest.

    The conservancy will be jointly managed by the Apoi community and SW/Niger Delta Forest Project, which has been working there for seven years before a formal Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently. This community-based conservation effort is key to the survival of the species, which is one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world. About three groups of the monkey have territories in the conservancy.

    The MOU between SW/Niger Delta Forest Project and community leaders was signed on September 27. Chief Vinmarh G. Fietabara, chairman of the Council of Chiefs; Mr. Edu Kemeghesuotei, chairman of the Apoi Community Development Committee (CDC) and Mr. Godday S. Awudu, Apoi youth president, all signed the agreement and the entire Apoi community—all of its members—attended the signing ceremony, as well as some members of neighboring communities that share boundaries with the new conservancy.

    Director of SWNiger Delta Forest Project, Rachael Ikemeh Ashegbofe and Chairman, Apoi Council of Chiefs, Chief Vinmarh G. Fietabara shaking hands after signing the MOU on conservancy creation and management
    Director of SWNiger Delta Forest Project, Rachael Ikemeh Ashegbofe and Chairman, Apoi Council of Chiefs, Chief Vinmarh G. Fietabara shaking hands after signing the MOU on conservancy creation and management

    Director of SW/Niger Delta Forest Project, Rachel Ashegbofe Ikemeh said the presence of the endemic Niger Delta red colobus monkey known locally as the “epieni” was an important factor in the recognition of the forest as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2008.

    “Recent surveys provided evidence that this forest remains key to the continued survival of the remnant population of the Niger Delta red colobus monkey,” she added.

    Niger Delta red colobus monkeys only live in a dense swamp forest that is extremely difficult to navigate, the species was only discovered and described by science in 1993. Researchers with SW/Niger Delta Forest Project can only reach the forests in dug-out canoes and wading through murky waist-deep water.

    In the 1990s researchers estimated that the species population in the forests was about 10,000. However, the population is currently down to a mere 500 individuals living scattered across an extremely small area. The monkeys’ current range is estimated to be between 200 and 78 square kilometers from a known historical range of 1,500 square kilometers.

    Lack of adequate wildlife protection laws, indiscriminate logging, hunting and oil extraction in the species habitat are a few of the reasons behind its decline. The new Apoi community bylaws are the first-ever protections for the Niger Delta red colobus.

    The SW/Niger Delta Forest Project and the Apoi community are developing a five-year management plan, which will establish formal protection for Niger Delta red colobus, improve land-use planning, adopt sustainable livelihood initiatives for the local community and improve the quality of the marsh forest. The Apoi community has already begun enacting and implementing new bylaws and efforts to demarcate the boundaries of the conservancy are underway.

    The community conservancy is only the second-ever created in Nigeria.

    The organization is taking a community-based approach to this conservation effort which establishes formal protection for the species while also supporting community partners to improve land use planning, adopt sustainable livelihood practices and improve the quality of marsh forest habitat through an all-inclusive management approach to ensure benefits to both biodiversity and the community.

    “We have a really strong partnership and have developed a solid relationship over the last 6 to 7 years, thanks to the continued presence of our team on the ground and the persistent efforts of our project director, so I believe we will tactfully surmount any challenges we may encounter,” said Kosipre Williams, a field officer for SW/Niger Delta Forest Project.

    Since 2013, the SW/Niger Delta Forest Project has monitored two populations of Niger Delta red colobus monkeys in Apoi Creek Forest and Kolotoro-Ongoloba Forest, overlapping Azagbene, Azama and Aleibiri territories. It has also pushed for local, state and international intervention to help the Niger Delta red colobus, which is on the brink of extinction.

    “What Rachel and her team have accomplished, working in close collaboration with the Apoi Community, is truly remarkable, especially when one considers that the Niger Delta region is one of the most complicated and often dangerous regions to work in all of Africa,” said Russ Mittermeier, chief conservation officer for Global Wildlife Conservation. “This species is one of the highest priorities in our soon to be published Red Colobus Action Plan, covering all the species of this most endangered African primate genus.”

    The SW/Niger Delta Forest Project has worked closely with the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s SSC Primate Specialist Group and The Red Colobus Conservation Network and is supported by the Rainforest Trust, Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Mohammed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, GWC’s Primate Action Fund, Primate Conservation Inc., National Geographic Society and other philanthropies. 

  • President Buhari’s UN summit message, a hope for biodiversity conservation in Nigeria?

    President Buhari’s UN summit message, a hope for biodiversity conservation in Nigeria?

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s message at the virtual 2020 Biodiversity Summit, held on the margins of the 75th UN General Assembly, in New York seems like a message of hope to conservationists and environment advocates in the country.

    In the message delivered last Wednesday, at the summit convened by Ambassador Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th UNGA, Nigeria’s president expressed that most indigenous flora and fauna commonly found within the country are facing extinction.

    Read also: Ogoni cleanup under HYPREP has failed — MOSOP

    He announced that an action plan has been put together to salvage the situation.

    ”We are reviewing our biodiversity-related laws and developing shelterbelts across 11 States in the country. In addressing biodiversity loss, we are implementing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme in Ogoniland,” Buhari said.

    ”The on-going clean-up is another landmark in the ecosystem restoration initiative of our administration. It is aimed at improving livelihoods of communities in the South-South Region of the country.”

    Buhari pointed to a new National Forest Policy, a second update since 1988, signed in July this year as a commitment to ensuring continuous socio-economic development. He said the country is also mauling the development of a National Mangrove Restoration project in the Niger Delta region.

    ”Furthermore, we are currently implementing a national program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, a mechanism developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

    ”This programme is aimed at discouraging deforestation, conserving already existing forests, enhancing carbon stock and mitigating climate change impact.

    ”We have also facilitated the designation of Finima Nature Park in Bonny Island, Rivers State as the 12th Ramsar Site of international importance.

    Read also: Boko Haram kills three elephants in Nigeria – Cameroon border community

    ”The government is equally incorporating biodiversity into tourism sector through a national programme targeted at combating illegal wildlife trade and trafficking in two pilot protected area sites, namely: Gashaka-Gumti National Park; and Yankari Games Reserve,’’ President Buhari said.

    He added that the country would expedite the process of accession to both the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation.

    Nigeria would meet its international obligations on the Nagoya-Kuala Lampur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

    ”Concerning ocean governance and marine biodiversity protection, Nigeria is among the first twelve countries to sign onto the 30 by 30 Global Ocean Alliance.

    ”Accordingly, we have identified two viable sites for the establishment of Marine Protected Areas to help in the protection, conservation and management of both marine and coastal biodiversity resources.

    ”Leveraging on the Strategic Action Plan of the Lake Chad Basin, Nigeria is spearheading sub-regional biodiversity action to mitigate insecurity, provide jobs, boost agricultural output, food security and reduce poverty.

    ”Towards the delivery of our biodiversity aspiration, Nigeria has concentrated on the provision of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Protocols adopted under the Convention and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements into national environmental policies and programmes,” he said.

    Many Nigerians hope it is not just all talk. Researchers, rangers and conservation experts in the country believe that more is needed in order to really recover the disappearing biodiversity of Nigeria.

    In a recent interview with Dr. Tajudeen Amusa, a conservationist from the department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ilorin pointed out that many nature reserves in the country are now havens of criminals.

    He mentioned Sambisa forest, which is gazetted as a game reserve, but has now turned to home ground for the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists as a foremost example.

    Experiences by rangers in nature reserves corroborate his claim. This rangers mention lack of equipment to combat poachers and illegal loggers as an expression of lack of will to act by the government.

  • Training people to combat desertification in Nigeria

    Training people to combat desertification in Nigeria

    The Sahara desert is moving towards the South at the rate of about 0.6 kilometres per year. The result is that many lands that were formally good for planting and supporting diverse forms of agricultural and food production activities can no longer continue such support. 

    Nigeria is sorely affected by this losing about 35000 hectares of land annually in states to the north of the country like Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara.

    One of the efforts by governments to beat the rapid desertification and also boost food security while supporting the mist affected communities’ adaptation to climate change is the Great Green Wall. 

    Recently, the government of Nigeria reiterated its commitment to tackle desert encroachment in the country during the official flag-off of training for youths and women on various skills, under the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.

    Read also: Gombe losing 600m of land to desert encroachment annually, says GGP

    At the event which took place in Kano, the Minister of Environment, Mohammad Mahmud said his ministry is working towards ensuring that desert encroachment is completely addressed.

    Read also: How Gombe combats erosion, ecological problems through tree planting

    Mahmud noted that the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (GGW) is a collaboration of eleven African countries aimed at planting enough trees to curtail desert encroachment.

    He added that part of GGW activities includes youth empowerment, which is aimed at improving the livelihood of the people.

    According to the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Garba Saleh the state is working on  distributing two million tree-seedlings to farmers and households in the state to plant as their own contribution to the fight against desertification.

  • Nigeria’ on the road to 35 percent reduction of Ozone Depleting Substances

    Nigeria’ on the road to 35 percent reduction of Ozone Depleting Substances

    Every 16 of September, for about three decades now, the world has commemorated the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The commemoration got its roots from the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete ozone layer documents signed in 1987.

    The aim is to raise awareness about the declining ozone layer, a thin gaseous protective layer that protects the earth from certain rays of the sun that are damaging to life on earth. The ozone layer is being perforated by substances called the ozone depleting gases such as methyl bromide, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and families of chemicals known as halons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

    The theme for this year’s event is Ozone for life.

    On September 16, 2020 Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar on the occasion revealed that Nigeria has met its compliance obligations under the Hydrochlorofuorocarbons phase-out management plan of the Montreal Protocol.

    He made the revelation during the extended Ministerial Press Briefing for the commemoration of the year 2020 International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer.

    “We have met the compliance obligations under the protocol by achieving the 10% reduction of our Hydrochlorofuorocarbons importation from the baseline in 2015,” he said.

    Read also: Former minister calls for speed up of Ogoni cleanup

    “We are now on track to achieve further reduction of 35% consumption by the end of this year.”

    Nigeria signed the Montreal Protocol in 1988, a year after it came into existence. And according to the minister, the country has ratified all its related amendments and have been implementing the protocol’s Ozone Depleting Substances phase-out programme in Nigeria assisting over 600 large, small and medium scale enterprises in the Foam, Refrigeration and Air conditioning, Aerosols, Fire protection and solvent sectors to convert to Ozone friendly substances and technologies.

    There are still fears from experts though that many fairly used refrigerators containing ozone depleting gases and other such materials imported into the country may pose dangers and take away from the wins described by the minister.

    Under the Multilateral Environmental Agreements that Nigeria is a party to the procedures of the procedures at Africa System House, Vitapour Nig. Ltd (a subsidiary of Vitafoam Nig. Ltd), for the formulation of Ozone-friendly systems in the manufacture of rigid polyurethane foam, was upgraded completed in 2019 and is ready for commissioning, the minister said.

    “Studies have shown that replacing climate potent gases creates an opportunity to increase the energy efficiency of cooling equipment by 10-50 per cent thereby significantly reducing energy cost to consumers and businesses,” he added.

    Abubakar called on Nigerians to be steadfast in their efforts to limit climate change impact even as the world grapple with the challenge of Covid-19.

    “As we deal with the impacts of the global pandemic, it is pertinent to be conscious of climate action as it could cause even more misery and disruption than Covid-19: we must therefore be resolute in our efforts to limit it,” he said.

    He added that despite global challenge occasion by the outbreak of Covid-19 and its impact on the nation’s health and economy, the Federal Ministry of Environment remain resolute in its resolve to phase out Ozone Depleting Substances and activities, recognising the importance of the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning servicing sector in guaranteeing food security and availability of medicines through effective and efficient preservation as well as providing thermal comfort in hospitals and homes.

    Delivering a goodwill message from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Environment Expert, Oluyomi Banjo congratulated Nigeria for achieving 10% reduction of Ozone-depleting substance describing the nation has been proactive and exemplary.

  • World Vulture Day 2020: NCF drums up support for vultures

    World Vulture Day 2020: NCF drums up support for vultures

    Vultures are not dirty animals. They are fascinating species that serve a crucial purpose in the ecosystem as efficient waste management agents. Even though other species are doing the same task, the vulture does it better, faster and more efficiently than any other. Pathogens from carrions eaten by the vultures do not survive through the birds’ digestive tracts so there is no risk of transmitting deadly diseases through droppings like other scavengers.

    Sadly though, the population of the vultures are rapidly reducing in Nigeria. Of the seven species of vulture found in the country, five are classified as vulnerable, but only one can be easily seen in the wild.

    Vultures play a vital role in disease reduction in the ecosystem

    The situation is dire for these specialist cleaners of the ecosystem. This is the conclusion of experts at the World Vulture Day webinar organized by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) to mark the event this year.

    According to Dr Stella Egbe-Iruoje, the significance of the decline of this species population is the creation of a gap in the ecological role played by the species in maintaining a balance in the ecosystem.
    She noted that some human activities which are carried out innocently cost the country’s vulture population severely.

    Read also: #SaveTheVultures: They need all the help

    “One example is from bioaccumulation of toxic substances from pesticides, herbicides and other agricultural chemicals,” Egbe-Iruoje said. “These substances getting into the vulture’s diet affect the quality of their eggs. They make the eggshell weak and so the eggs break before they are hatched, leading to further decline in the species population.”

    if the role played by the vulture in environmental cleanup were to be paid for, the cost will run into billions.
    Source: webinar presentation

    She mentioned that anthropogenic activities leading to habitat loss and sometimes deliberate poisoning of the species are also responsible for the decrease in population. She called on communities to see the vulture as a vital part of a functional ecosystem instead of stigmatizing it.

    Also speaking at the event, Mr Adewale Awoyemi, head of forest centre, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) illustrated that if the role played by the vulture in environmental cleanup were to be paid for, the cost will run into billions.


    Awoyemi joined the program host, Emmanuel Olabode and NCF Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Adebayo Memudu to call on communities, governments, conservationists, nature lovers and all other enthusiasts to come to the aid of the vultures to avoid severe public health and other consequences.

  • Covid19: Virus circulating in bats for 40 years

    Covid19: Virus circulating in bats for 40 years

    Coronavirus causing, the dreaded Covid19 may have been around for decades among bats. The closest known predecessor of the virus existed in bats 40-70 years ago, researchers from the University of Glasgow noted in a recent research.

    The coronavirus developed potential for a human crossover for some time, the scientists said.

    According to the researchers, the study posed questions on claims that the virus was created in a lab.

    Read Also: Covid19: Tiger tests positive in US zoo

    Prof David Robertson of the University of Glasgow, worked on the study, published in the journal Nature Microbiology.

    “That suggests that these viruses with the potential to emerge in humans have been around for some time,” Robertson said.

    “We really do need to understand where or how the virus has crossed into the human population. If we now believe there is this generalist virus circulating in bats, we need to get better at monitoring that.

    The professor holds that there is a need to keep an eye on the future forms of the disease in order to prevent the pandemic from re-emerging.

    “If these viruses have been around for decades that means that they’ve had lots of opportunities to find new host species,” he said.

    Read also: Nigerian biologist, Tanshi wins Future For Nature Award

    The researchers compared the genetic structure of Sars-CoV-2 with its close relative found in bats, a virus known as RaTG13.

    They then concluded that both the relatives emerged from the same ancestor, but evolved over time.

    Bats are found across the world and can migrate long distances.

    Scientists had earlier fingered snakes and pangolins as hosts that transmitted the coronavirus to people and caused the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    However, the bat has come up in more research than any other species as the host. It is widely believed that the virus may have spread widely among species through improper handling during illegal trafficking.

  • IWT Challenge Fund: Fight against illegal wildlife trade gets boost in Guatemala, Mexico

    IWT Challenge Fund: Fight against illegal wildlife trade gets boost in Guatemala, Mexico

    Protected species across the globe have been given a boost as the British government announces funding for new projects from the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund.

    The fund has allocated more than £399,000 to strengthening law enforcement in protected areas in Guatemala to reduce the poaching of valuable hardwood species and fauna. The project will include cross-border coordination with Mexico as to identify these illicit routes.

    Read also: Nigerian conservationist, Ikemeh wins Whitley Award 

    The three-year project (2020-2023) will tackle increased poaching of valuable hardwood species and fauna, which is affecting Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve (Peten), the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and Balamku State Reserve in Mexico (Campeche).

    Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will implement the project in collaboration with Asociación Balam, ACOFOP, CECON/USAC, Foro de Justicia Ambiental de Petén, FUNDAECO, CONAP and the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Guatemala; and ProNatura Península Yucatán, CONANP, and SEMABICC in Mexico.

    The Illegal Wildlife Trade is a criminal industry worth more than £17 billion each year around the world threatening wildlife, bringing species to the brink of extinction and causing despair for communities.

    In addition, tackling IWT is also important for the UK as the Covid-19 crisis highlights the direct links between nature conservation and human well-being. The fund also aims to help those institutions addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss and zoonotic disease emergence, notably high-risk wildlife trade, deforestation and unsustainable land-use changes.

    The UK government is also inviting new projects to apply for the next round of funding of the IWT Challenge Fund.

  • International Day for Mangrove Ecosystem Conservation: Nigeria mauls restoration project

    International Day for Mangrove Ecosystem Conservation: Nigeria mauls restoration project

    The Federal Government says it is considering a National Mangrove Restoration Project that will deliver environmental and sustainable livelihood benefits for people living in the Niger Delta region.

    Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State for Environment, made this known in a statement issued by Mr Saghir el Mohammed, the Director Press in the Ministry.

    Ikeazor said the project would serve as measures toward ensuring the protection of mangroves and oceans in the country.

    She announced this as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2020 International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

    The International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2015, and it is celebrated on July 26 of every year.

    The theme for this year’s celebration is “Towards a Sustainable Use of Mangrove Wood Resources ”.

    The Federal Government is ready to support any programme that will help in promoting healthy mangrove ecosystem in the country, the minister assured.

    Nigeria has the largest mangrove cover in Africa, and the fourth largest in the world. More than 60 percent of these mangroves forests, equivalent to 6,000 square kilometres, are in the Niger Delta region of the country.

    “Physically, they serve as buffers between marine and terrestrial communities; protect shorelines from damaging winds, waves and floods; and reduce coastal erosion,” Ikeazor notes in the press release.

    Read also: REDD+ programme gets Ogun, Edo, Plateau as new additions

    “Mangrove thickets improve water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediments from the land.

    “Ecologically, they provide habitat for a diverse array of terrestrial organisms and support a rich biodiversity.; their soils are highly effective carbon sinks, sequestering vast amounts of carbon, thereby reducing Greenhouse Gases.”

    The minister called on individuals and corporate organizations to support the government’s effort in making sure that mangroves are restored and protected across the country.

    “The Federal Government is demonstrating its commitment to the conservation and management of the mangroves by signing and ratifying some multilateral agreements, such as Abidjan Convention, Ramsar Convention and Maputo Convention, among others.”

    She disclosed that Nigeria has joined and committed to the 30By30 Global Ocean Alliance, a UK-led initiative, aimed at protecting 30 percent of the global oceans within the Marine Protected area by 2030.

    “The government, through the Department of Forestry, is undertaking a Mangrove Restoration Project, known as the ‘Mangrove for Life Project, aimed to restore degraded and manage existing mangrove forests in Nigeria.

    “This project is being implemented through Wetlands International (Africa) and Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation.

    “In addition, the Department of Forestry and the National Park Service have conducted a coastal study to identify potential marine protected areas.”

    Ikeazor said that four reserve sites were identified and assessed in the study which include Taylor Creek Forest, Num Forest, Apoi Creek Forest and Edumanon Forest, all in Bayelsa State.

    According to her, the assessment indicated that two (Apoi Creek Forest Reserve and Edumanon Forest Reserve) of the four sites are viable for upgrading to the status of Marine Protected area.