FG urges stakeholders to tackle threats to biodiversity
The Federal Government has urged stakeholders in the environment sector to strengthen efforts to tackle biodiversity threat in the country.
Dr Iziaq Salako Minister of State for Environment said this at a workshop in Abuja.
The theme of the workshop is “National Biodiversity for the Early Action Support Project to Implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
(KMGBF)”.
“It is clear that we must use all of the tools at our disposal to reduce the threats to biodiversity, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is guiding our way.
“As stakeholders in this important process, you have a crucial role to preserve the biodiversity we cherish, the natural resources on which our very survival depends.
“National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is the policy instrument for national implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),” Salako said.
The minister said that the African continent is more vulnerable to climate change, species loss, and biodiversity destruction than any other.
“African environments and resources, including that of our country have been hit hard by decades and centuries of exploitation mostly perpetrated by other countries especially in the global north.
“And now our environments, our wildlife, our lands, and our peoples are most at risk. But Nigeria and the rest of African nations are leading the way to protect our planet’s biodiversity,” he said.
On her part, Nifesimi Ogunkua, Climate Change Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) pledged FAO’s full support to the implementation and evaluation of NBSAPs.
“FAO has developed an impressive array of tools, frameworks, and approaches to support the realisation of the Global 2030 targets.
“FAO is excited about the priority the government of Nigeria has placed on integrating agric-food systems.
“We recognise the importance of a holistic approach and are ready to work closely with Nigeria to achieve these goals. FAO is open to collaborate with other partners in Nigeria,” Ogunkua assured.
NAN
