My Biodiversity Action Places Nigerian Flag on CBD Websiteby | 02-06-2016 09:02 |
|---|
|
On the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), I wrote a commentary that was read four different times on UNIZIK 94.1 FM Community Radio and emailed my action to the Convention on Biological Diversity. That placed the Nigerian flag, which was hitherto not there, on the website with my action well registered in these links https://www.cbd.int/idb/2016/celebrations/ng/ and https://www.cbd.int/idb/2016/celebrations/. It remains the only registered action on the IDB 2016 in Nigeria. Below is the full commentary: COMMENTARY ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY By Chiagozie Udeh May 22nd is annually commemorated as the International Day of Biological Diversity. It is a day set aside by the United Nations to create awareness on Biodiversity issues. According to information from the UN, ?The United Nations General Assembly, by its resolution 55/201 of 20 December 2000, proclaimed 22 May as The International Day for Biological Diversity, to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The date designated for the day was chosen to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The day was first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, and the UN General Assembly, by its resolution 49/119 of 19 December 1994, designated December 29th (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity) the International Day for Biological Diversity. However, it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year?. The importance of biodiversity to our collective existence cannot be overemphasized, more so when nations whose tourism sector fund their national budget are considered. Nigeria is one of the countries whose biodiversity is on the wane. Aided in no small measure by increased deforestation, relentless bush burning and crude hunting, the country is slowly forcing her share of nature?s free gift into extinction. Oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta and a shameful lack of national laws on biodiversity has plunged our biodiversity into an unenviable deep. It was during the last quarter of 2015 that the only lion in the Jos Park was murdered in brutal fashion by security operatives who were called in to help guard the escaping lion back to the park. They didn?t only see the escapee lion as a quick opportunity to prove their hard work but also as a historic chance to have a taste of a heroic bush meat. This happened and there are no words yet from the government as regards the culprit almost a year after. Same is the case of the Cross River State governor who wants to build a super highway from Crossriver to Kaduna that will divide the Ekuru forest, one of the few remaining and most biologically diverse forest reserves in West Africa and render thousands of natives homeless and virtually without ancestral inheritance. Governor Ayade has been called upon to re-route the road but it appears those calls fell on not just deaf ears, but uninterested ones. Nigeria is a signatory to the UN Decade on Biodiversity which will elapse by 2020, six years into the decade we have close to nothing to show for it. Our national plan for biodiversity exists only on paper. If the UN aims for the sustainability of biodiversity, Nigeria, by her actions or inaction, aims for the opposite. The template had long been set and targets established by the Aichi Biodiversity Targets but for our lack of sustainable national plan, we are simply not making any move to conserve our biodiversity. Over 100 billion dollars is being channeled yearly to developing countries as incentives to support their works on biodiversity, Nigeria is yet to tap from these whopping opportunities begging for use. We must wake up! We still have four years to meet our targets in line with the UN Decade on Biodiversity. We must work hard towards the implementation of the Aichi biodiversity targets. Our lawmakers must pay more attention to things that sustain our very existence. We need laws that will protect our forests, our wildlife, and our specially diverse species. A visit to Kenya gets you talking about their various national parks, same with Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Swazil amongst others but hardly can one say same of Nigeria. These nations don?t necessarily have more species than Nigeria they just understood how important it was to harness them. Parks attract tourists to most countries unfortunately Nigeria is not one of them. Not because we lack what it takes but because of our defiant refusal to harness what we have. Tourism is a big yet untapped industry in Nigeria hence, it is important that we harness this biodiversity and build our tourism around it. Nations such as Seychelles and Mauritius whose economic successes owes much to tourism explored their biodiversity to get to the level they are now as part of the world?s choice holiday and tourism spots. We must explore the various business opportunities provide by our biodiversity if we are serious about diversifying our economy. The great green wall project initiated by the previous federal administration to mitigate desert encroachment in Nigeria especially in the North should be sustained and our forestry institute built to global standards. Nigerians, let us protect our collective heritage. Say no to bush burning, reject crude hunting and resist the urge to fall trees. Nature was there and diverse when you came and should still be there and diverse when your 3rd generation arrives. Don?t be so cruel to deny them the opportunity of meeting a beautiful earth. As we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, can you just plant a tree for the planet, it?s a great way to show you care. |
