FG appeals for global response to biodiversity crises

The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salami, has appealed for a global response to the biodiversity crisis. He is seeking more financial support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to realize the “30 by 30 Vision”. 

This was stated during the ECOWAS coordination meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, where they discussed expanding and strengthening the ECOWAS Protected Area, mapping out ECOWAS’ contribution to the 30 by 30 objective.

Salami disclosed that Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries aim to ensure that the world unites and responds as one to the biodiversity crisis.

Salami revealed further that, “By launching the ECOWAS appeal for an ambitious global response to the biodiversity crisis, our region played a significant role in securing the adoption of this commitment in Target three of the Global Biodiversity Framework. For this, I warmly congratulate you and invite you to please stand up and thumb up for West Africa.” 

The Minister emphasized that Nigeria will continue to play a leadership role in mobilizing and organizing West Africa in order to safeguard its regional biodiversity. 

The purpose of the meeting, according to a release issued by the minister spokesperson, Ibrahim Haruna, on Monday, is to strategize and develop concrete actions for achieving Africa’s environmental goals. 

The Minister also highlighted that President Bola Tinubu, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS, is an avid environmentalist and a climate hero. Sustainability is a fundamental principle of his economic agenda.

The three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are therefore receiving adequate attention in the Presidential deliverables of the  Federal Ministry of Environment.  

The Minister further stressed that the healthier our region’s biodiversity is, the better it will be in withstanding future climate and biodiversity shocks and the more resilient to continue to deliver for the people.

“The ECOWAS region is the only part of the world that is looking at its contribution to halting biodiversity loss through a regional lens a template critical for global success and to securing nature for future generations.” he said.

The Minister, however, commended the partners; United Nations Development Programme, Bloomberg ocean, Campaign for nature  for providing both financial and technical support.

ECOWAS representative, Benard Koffi, in his presentation  said that the ECOWAS countries have played a significant role in securing the adoption of the global commitment to expand protected areas to 30% of the Planet by 2030.

Koffi said the regional body have demonstrated collaboration, expertise, and strength in our advocacy for the protection of our natural heritage.

“We are matching good intentions with concrete actions to show the World that we are ready to expand our protected areas and strengthen their effectiveness.

“Today, we pave the way towards achieving a bold new vision to cooperate to protect 30% of our ecosystems so that we benefit now and so that our children and grandchildren will share in those benefits long into the future, when we set aside biodiverse areas for protection.” He stated.

He said the ECOWAS must commit to protect biodiverse areas effectively by ensuring no environmentally damaging activity is allowed.

“Through this meeting, you will work together on four major steps towards protecting 30% of the ECOWAS region. You will first develop a process to undertake an assessment of the gaps in our regional network of protected areas to identify where we may expand and improve them. Then you will launch the development of a short and medium term regional action plan to address these gaps. Next, you will propose mechanisms to monitor and fund the expansion and strengthening of our protected areas.”