Conservationists advocate ecosystem restoration, task youths on save planet

African conservationists in collaboration with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) have advocated ecosystem restoration to help save the planet from the harmful effects of climate change.

The leading conservationists from Nairobi, Abuja, Lagos and Calabar, also challenged Nigerian youths to rise and champion courses that would promote ecosystem restoration.

Speaking during the 19th Chief S.L Edu Memorial Lecture titled ‘Youth and Ecosystem Restoration’ organised  by the  Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF),  Senior Manager, Youth Leadership Programme, African Wildlife Foundation, the Guest Speaker, Ms Simangele Msweli, who doubles as guest speaker, said the world needs urgent restoration of ecosystem which has been degraded for so long.

Msweli led other Youth Conservationists – Ms Omobola Eko; Mr Abubakar Muhammad & Ms Nella Duke Ekpeyong to add credence to the discussion.

She identified poor implementation of great policies and strategic action programmes in African countries owing to bad leadership, corruption and non-youth integration.

Msweli is of the opinion that youth commitment coupled with effective engagement from government’s organisations would bring people closer to a world where ecosystems are reserved and therefore providing livelihood, climate resilience, and sustainable economy.

Earlier in his opening remarks, President, Board of Trustees, NCF, Chief Philip Asiodu, who also doubled as the Chairman at the Memorial Lecture, observed that the forest reserves had depleted significantly from 35 per cent to three per cent, thereby denying animals their natural habitat which could possibly bring harm to human environment.”

“It is a great concern that when we look at our environment today, especially people who have been around before independence, one will be moved to tears at the level of degradation, loss of wetlands, desertification and fast disappearing forest.”

He therefore urged that some immediate actions must be taken to end this so as to bequeath a legacy of halting and reversing the loss (a legacy of total restoration of the ecosystem, a legacy of saving our world) to future generation.

In the same vein, Chairman, National Executive Council of NCF, Chief Ede Dafinone, said the year’s topic was very important to NCF because humans seemed to have severed relationships with the ecosystem, with the earth, and with the planet.

“We are plundering and polluting nature’s resources, treating our planet as a dumping ground for plastic and other waste. It has been projected that we could lose one million species in the next few decades if we don’t act now. Unfortunately, there’s no planet B, where we can move to, in the future.

“There are some actions we can take, starting from today, individually and collectively to recreate our relationship with the planet and restore our ecosystem.”

Director-General of NCF, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, called on African youths to take the driver’s seat in ‘this global decade-long project’ of ecosystem restoration from 2021-2030.

According to him, the youths have the energy, technical know-how and the information at their disposal to make a meaningful contribution to environmental restoration.

General Manager, Policy, Government and  Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr Esimaje Brikinn, said that his organisation is transparently committed to advancing a lower carbon future that meets the global needs of all people, through affordable and reliable and ever cleaner energy towards achieving a more prosperous and sustainable world.

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