The Federal Government, ECOWAS and West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development (WABiLED), have collaborated to restore and transform the ecosystem in the community.
Stakeholders had expressed concerns over the continuous loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems, assuring to tackle the situation efficiently.
The Minister of State for Environment, Udi Odum, while declaring open the ECOWAS Coordination Meeting for the Upcoming 15th Conference of Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-15), in Abuja, on Monday, said the purpose of the gathering was to discuss how to work together for effective transformation of the ecosystem.
Odum also said the Federal Government, ECOWAS, and other stakeholders decided to collaborate to discuss the regional position and priority areas for the sub-region on the CBD post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
He said: “The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the upcoming CBD COP 15 in Montreal, Canada. As you are aware, the continuous loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems threaten global development aspirations.
“As we all know, if the SDGs are in jeopardy, for us in Africa, it will mean that progress toward the Agenda 2063 will also be undermined.
“We are all aware that the world`s ecosystems and biodiversity are deteriorating at an alarming rate, thereby undermining humanity’s wellbeing and its future existence.
“It is sad to note that the Aichi Biodiversity Target had failed to realise its objectives which were set out in the CBD framework to show the loss of biodiversity.”
“We can take the ambitious road and work together as a sub-region to choose a different path, which is the path of conservation, restoration, transformation and sustainable use of our biodiversity.
“For indeed, our solutions are really in nature; if we do not act, we will soon reach tipping points that may cause irreversible destruction to nature and ultimately humankind.”
The Minister, represented by the Acting Director, Department of Forestry in the Ministry, John Daniel, said the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) indicated that the current negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystems would undermine the progress.
We are all aware that the world`s ecosystems and biodiversity are deteriorating at an alarming rate, thereby undermining humanity`s wellbeing and its future existence.
Conserving protected areas
The Head of Department, ECOWAS Directorate of Environment, Bernard Kofi, said the sub regional body had invested in the promotion of the imperative for climate change, adding that the importance of the GBF negotiations is to conserve the protected areas of the region.
He said: “Let us all concentrate on the restoration of the biodiversity, the protected areas should be used to the maximum and be expanded to cover 30 per cent of the surface of the earth between now and 2030.
“It is very important for us to have a common point of view so that we can bring it together, thereafter, we can talk with other parties in order to strengthen our position.”
The Director-General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr Joseph Onoja, noted that countries face twin challenges of nature/biodiversity loss and climate change.
He described the challenges as “two sides of the same coin,” adding that the NCF was committed to ensuring effective collaboration.
The WABiLED Policy and Partnerships Lead, Ghana, Dr Marcelin Mahop, said that the post 2020 GBF was a grand plan that would set the world on track on the ideal of living in harmony with nature by 2050.
He said that the post 2020 GBF would replace the 2011 to 2020 strategic plan for biodiversity, which was a framework for action by all countries to safeguard biodiversity and the benefits provided.
He said the WABiLED aims at reducing deforestation, forest degradation and biodiversity loss among others, in key trans-boundary forest landscapes.
Also, the Manager, Policy and Partnerships, African Wildlife Foundation, Ms Joy Anangwe, expressed readiness to be an integral part of shaping the conservation agenda in ECOWAS. (NAN)
