The Wild Africa Fund urged the government and conservation organizations to work together to combat forest and wildlife crime in order to protect Nigeria’s biodiversity on Friday, March 3, 2023, as the rest of the world observed World Wildlife Day, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of wildlife.
Elephants, lions, and gorillas, three of the most famous animals in the world, can be found in Nigeria. However, illegal activities like poaching, deforestation and the trade in illegal wildlife have endangered these animals, endangering their very existence. Additionally, Nigeria has developed into a major hub for the illegal trade in pangolin scales and ivory.
This year’s theme, “Partnerships for Wildlife,” emphasizes the crucial role partnership plays in protecting and preserving wildlife for biodiversity conservation. Protecting these species and their habitats is essential not only for their survival but for the health and well-being of the ecosystem and the livelihoods of the host communities that depend on them.
Wild Africa Fund says it is committed to protecting Nigeria’s wildlife but recognizes that this cannot be achieved independently as everyone has a part to play.
Read Also: yobe-deploys-2670-personnel-to-tackle-climate-change
“By partnering with the government, international and local NGOs, media, and local communities, we can achieve greater impact and ensure a brighter future for wildlife in Africa and beyond,” says Peter Knights, founder of Wild Africa Fund. “Collaboration is the best hope that we have of ensuring that Nigeria’s natural resources are protected for future generations.”
Wild Africa Fund is collaborating with organizations such as the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI) with support from the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) to support the Nigerian government to update its wildlife laws and combat illegal wildlife trade.
There has been progressing with this as the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill passed its first reading in the Federal House of Representatives in February 2023, demonstrating the organizations and government’s commitment to wildlife conservation.
EIA said it’s proud of its long-standing partnerships with government agencies, civil society organizations, and public institutions such as the financial and banking sectors, all of whom have a vital role to play in tackling wildlife trafficking.
Story adapted from EnviroNews
