World Environment Day: We must Restore, Conserve And Protect Biodiversity As key Antidotes To COVID-19 Recovery – Muhammad Abubakar
Muhammad Abubakar
Minister of Environment
As Nigeria join the rest of the world to mark 2020 world Day (WED) the Minister of Environment, Dr Muhammad Abubakar said
The “theme is indeed very appropriate, considering the fact that Researchers and Scientist have established COVID-19 to be zoonotic,In order to fully address and prevent future pandemics therefore,
we must Restore, Conserve and Protect biodiversity as key antidotes to COVID-19 recovery.
The World Environment Day is held on June 5 every year and it is celebrated globally.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government’s commitment to the Global Biodiversity Framework under the convention on Biological Diversity, stressing that Nigeria is leading the ECOWAS Member-States on Post 2020 Biodiversity Frame work.
He made this known to newsmen during a press briefing on thursday ,june 4th 2020 in Abuja.
Abubakar further revealed that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the traditional activities such as tree-planting and public workshops which were undertaken to celebrate the day in the past and has necessitated new approaches in advocacy and communication.
“The UNEP, 2020 is a year for urgency, ambition and action to address the crisis facing nature,
“It is also an opportunity to more fully incorporate nature-based solutions into global climate action, especially as commemorating the day has become a powerful platform to accelerate, amplify and engage people, communities and governments around the world to take action on critical environmental challenges facing the planet, he added.
“One million seedlings being handed over to Kaduna State, is in fulfilment of commitment made by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the 74th UN General Assembly in New York, to plant 25million trees to mitigate the effects of Climate Change in Nigeria,
“As part of on-going efforts to meet Mr. President’s directives on planting of 25 million trees and as a symbolic gesture to commemorate the 2020 World Environment Day in the country, I will be in Kaduna tomorrow Friday, where I will hand over 1 million seedlings to the Kaduna State Government.”
“It is our ardent prayer and hope that the seedlings would be properly utilized to mitigate the effect of biodiversity, climate change and improve on our natural habitats. Also said that the disinfection of schools had been ongoing, particularly in public schools, as the ministry was currently working in all geopolitical zones He said.
In the same vein, the Honorable minister of state Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor Noted that,
this year’s event will be slightly different because of our commitment to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic,ln strict adherence to the protocols on social and physncal distancing.
“All the events lined up for celebration in Nigeria will be through the Media and usmg the virtual conferencing to reinforce the sensitiunon and stimulates awareness on Wildlife Conservation, clean environment and thus arouses political Will, attention, and public acnon to connect with nature in a sustainable way.
“The World Environment Day (WED) was established in 1972 but First held 1974. The Day has also become a mu] platform for promotlng environmental issues and concerns. biodiverSIty.
“Climate Change, the Ecosystem and Even more significantly, a barometer of measuring progress on environmental dimensmns of Sustainable Development Goals with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) piloting it Over the years, it has grown to be the largest global platform for envnronmental public outreach, celebrated by millions of people in more than 100 countries.she added.
“We have taken steps to save our rich biodiversity through conservation of our Mung: uve Fulebi u’ldi spleau’ [tum Bdkassi iu Baddgly, wiIlLiI pruwu’eb sustainable livelihood for our people from shn’mps and oysters farming (the Mangrove forest is nature’s solunon to Combating Coastal erosion) to the beauuful thick Ram forest in the southern region of Nigeria which can been seen at the Cross River National Parks that boast of species of gorillas and Dr“! monkeys, Nguru Wetlands in the Northem part of Nigeria that host amazmg Bird and aquatic |le and Okomu National Park and Omo reserve that Houses elephants and variouse species among others.she stated.(Outlook media).