Author: Ebere Idiaye

  • Sightseeing train in Japan runs on ramen soup

    Sightseeing train in Japan runs on ramen soup

    The whimsical bright pink colored train in the town of Takachiho, in Miyazaki prefecture, Japan is powered by biofuel made from ramen soup.  

    The train which has been the delight of tourists began functioning in August 2022 under the operation of the Takachiho Amaterasu Railway company. The railway company is known to operate its trains using biodiesel energy. 

    The biofuel is a mixture of discarded tempura oil, fat extracted from tonkatsu (a type of pork broth), and ramen soup, all restaurant leftovers. After a series of chemical processes have been performed on the mixture, it becomes, capable of powering the engine of the train

    The actualization of this amazing feat is the brainchild of Masumi Nishida, the founder of Nishida Shoun Transportation Company located in the town of Shingu in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. This invention piqued the interest of the Takachiho Railway company because of its desire to operate its trains on environment-friendly fuel thereby leading to a collaboration between the two companies. 

    In June, a series of test runs commenced on the train of the railway company to determine the efficiency of the trains while running on biofuel. The biodiesel turned out to be powerful enough to move the fully loaded cars of the train uphill and its first official journey was on the 1st of August. 

    Therefore, as tourists delight in the beautiful scenery of mountains, rice fields, and LED light-decorated tunnels from the open rooftop of the bright pink train, they are also welcomed by the pleasant aroma of fried rice as the conductor blows bubbles from the train. A more appealing smell than the toxic fumes that previously emanated while diesel was in use. 

     

  • Critically endangered rhinoceros gives birth at Kansas City Zoo  

    Critically endangered rhinoceros gives birth at Kansas City Zoo  

    Kansas City Zoo welcomed the birth of a critically endangered species of rhino on December 31, 2022.

    Zuri, a critically endangered species of the eastern black rhino gave birth to its young in the early hours of the day as announced by zoo officials. 

    According to the report by the rhinos’ animal care specialist, the calf is healthy, walking, nursing, and playing. 

    This is a welcome development as eastern black rhinos also known as the East African black rhino, a subspecies of the black rhinoceros, have been the target of poaching because of their horn thereby leading to their constantly dwindling population

    Read also: Kenyan vets harvest 10 northern white rhino eggs in desperate conservation move

    The World Wildlife Foundation added that the political instability in Africa, its habitat, is fueling those poaching actions. The horns are used for herbal remedies the foundation noted. 

    Quoting the zoo officials, only about 740 eastern black rhinos are left in the wild. Poaching and a lack of safe habitat have been cited by Save the Rhino, a rhino conservation charity, as the major threats facing the animals. 

    The rhinoceros calf is expected to stay with its mother for at least two to four years. But in the meantime, human activities are limited around their enclosure to give mother and calf some bonding time. 

    Read also: Sumatran rhino now extinct in Malaysia

    Black rhinos are known to live for as long as 30 – 35 years in the wild and about 35 – 45 or more years in captivity according to Save the Rhino. 

     

  • Animals on the brink of extinction in 2022

    Animals on the brink of extinction in 2022

    Extinction is the dying out or extermination of a species. This process occurs when plant or animal species are diminished because of environmental factors such as habitat fragmentation, climate change, habitat loss, or over-exploitation by humans among others.

    Also, animals are declared extinct when they’ve gone unobserved in the wild for 50 years. Those on the IUCN Red List that are entering their 50th year of absence are up for extinction declaration in 2022.

    Animals that go extinct via the observation method, as opposed to other means, are often categorized as lost species.

    Here is a compilation of a list of some 4 such animals that have likely been lost to extinction in 2022.

    Sir David’s Long-Beaked Echidna (Zaglossus Attenborough)

    Also known as Spiny Anteaters, Sir David’s Long Beaked Echidna is a monotreme or an egg-laying mammal that is native to the temperate regions of Australia and lowland New Guinea.

    These animals are solitary and only meet once a year to procreate. They characteristically curl up into a ball when threatened while their spikes protect the process.

    It hasn’t been observed in the wild since 1961 therefore, will likely be declared extinct in 2022. However, some animal species remain in the lost animal category because individuals may still be discovered in the future. Hopefully, that will be the case for the Echidna since large portions of Papua New Guinea have not been biologically surveyed.

    Cape Verde Giant Skink

    The Cape Verde Giant skink is a specie of lizard that at one time inhabited the Islets of the Atlantic Ocean but as a result of human-caused habitat destruction that IIsletswere rendered deserts.

    An interesting feature of the Skink is that it possesses a transparent lower eyelid which possibly enables it to spot predators from below. Historically, this skink was a herbivore but in adapting to the degradation of its environment, it began eating small prey like bird eggs. They are also believed to be egg-laying reptiles.

    The extinct skink has not been seen since 1940 and may be declared extinct in 2022. Habitat loss and hunting are responsible. These animals were hunted because their bodies are believed to secrete oil that was used as a healing balm.

    Butterfly Splitfin (Ameca splendens)

    The Butterfly splitfin or the butterfly goodied, is a bony fish from the monotypic genus Ameca of the slpitfin family. The body of both sexes is ochre, with silvery sides and a brownish back which in males usually have numerous glittering scales. While the young are entirely silvery in color in the first two weeks after they are born.

    It’s been recorded that there are only one or two populations of these fish left in the wild, they, therefore are functionally extinct as these populations are isolated and limited. However, there is a tiny population located in a waterpark in Mexico, and escaped captive stock may now form a small wild population in Nevada.

    There is a strong possibility that they would be recognized as fully extinct this year as these populations are known to be extremely fragile. While butterfly splitfins are almost extinct in the wild, they’re doing well in captive breeding stocks.

    They are completely reliant on humans as they’re domesticated and displayed in aquariums. Sadly a decreased amount of interest in this species has resulted in a decline in their numbers, but there are still many individuals in existence.

    Atlantic Horseshoe Crab

    While the horseshoe crab in its entirety is not extinct, the population of horseshoe crabs in the Long Island Sound is functionally extinct as of 2022. Functional extinction means that there are still individuals alive, but they are a few generations from disappearing completely. There are not enough animals left to propagate the species in the Long Island Sound.

    This specific horseshoe crab is also known as the American horseshoe crab. It’s found in both brackish and marine environments. It’s in the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic seaboard.

    It’s considered an important part of native ecosystems because its eggs and juveniles are important sources of nutrients for sea turtles and birds. This is especially true in the more southern parts of its range, where it breeds year-round.

    While these crabs look like crabs and are found in the ocean like crabs, they’re more closely related to scorpions, ticks, and spiders. This is the last species of this type of crab found in North America, though there are extinct predecessors that existed within this animal’s territory.

    The American horseshoe crab likes to eat invertebrates, which get ground up in a gizzard after passing through legs with bristles on them. Horseshoe crabs, in general, are of interest to scientists because they’re considered living fossils.

  • Meet Inemesit Edem Eniang, a rising environmental conservation star

    Meet Inemesit Edem Eniang, a rising environmental conservation star

    Inemesit Edem Eniang is an environment champion who hails from Mbak Atai, Itam in the Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

    He was born into the family of Professor Edem A. Eniang some 19 years ago. He currently studies at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State where he studies Forestry and Environmental Management and also volunteers at the Biodiversity Preservation Center (BPC), Uyo, Nigeria.

    Aganais Speciosa; photo taken by Inemesit at the BPC

    He is one of the founding staff of Dangerous Animals Controllers International Limited (DACIL)

    At the BPC, Eniang grows and nurtures plants and animals while also giving educative tours to visitors who come to get enlightened on the topic of conservation.

    His passion for conservation propels him to participate in community and conservation awareness programs arranged by the organization.

    “I join the organization in their community and conservation awareness programs in different locations in Nigeria to preach against the indiscriminate killing/poaching of Nigeria’s endangered species,” he said.

    His flair for conservation which moved him to decide on his course of study at the university began at the young age of 12 when he accompanied his father on an ecological survey at Ibeno LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He described it as an interesting experience even though he didn’t completely grasp what his father was doing till much later when he was in senior secondary school.

    Rainbow Agam
    Photo credit: Inemesit

    Among the many activities organized by the Biodiversity Preservation Center (BPC) is the Ibom Bird Club which Inemesit is a member of. He joined this club to help create awareness about birding, and assist with gathering and submitting data on different species of birds in Nigeria. This data collection was done based on the location at which they were directed to work by the NIBAP officials and directors.

    Apart from this, he also collects data on plants and animals for iNaturalist.org.

  • ANI’s Gashaka and Okomu Projects- An innovative approach to conservation in West Africa

    ANI’s Gashaka and Okomu Projects- An innovative approach to conservation in West Africa

    Africa Nature Investors (ANI) shared an innovative approach to conservation in West Africa during the 2022 Annual Guest Lecture held by the Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management at the University of Ibadan which took place on the 12th of December 2022.

    Africa Nature Investors (ANI) is a Nigerian non-governmental organization founded five years ago by a group of Nigerians with a laudable passion for the protection of Africa’s natural resources. These resources as we know are intrinsic to the survival and sustenance of biodiversity as well as the existence and development of humanity.

    However, incessant exploitation of these resources poses an imminent danger to the existence of various life forms. Therefore, the steady destruction of our forests and savannah have to be halted without delay.

    Tunde Morakinyo, a Tropical Forest Conservation Specialist and one of the four founding trustees of ANI was the guest speaker at the lecture. He began his lecture by highlighting the potential dangers of over-exploiting the wild species “if you cut down all trees, agriculture suffers so we suffer, so many of our medicines come from the forest if we cut down all the forest there is no medicine. So these wild species are critical to our environment yet they are being destroyed for all sorts of reasons”

    “And we believe that we have to change this, we can not just stand back and watch the destruction happening because all of us will suffer as humanity. So we came together as Nigerians to protect these wild species in partnership with the local communities” he noted.

    Morakinyo further emphasized the fact that we do not need intervention from the outside world before we protect our forests and animals.

    Nigeria is endowed with about seven different national parks plus the Yankari game reserve. However, the focus of ANI is on two major projects in Nigeria which are the Gashaka Gunti National Park project and the Okomu National Park project.

    The NGO set its sights on these two parks not only to rewild and conserve nature but also to transform these parks into paradisic tourist destinations and research centers.

    The Gashaka Gunti National Park is the largest national park in Nigeria, which is situated on the border between Nigeria and Cameron. It extends across a landscape of about 7,000 kilometers. It is bejeweled with trees that stretch high into the sky, mountain grasslands, rainforests, and incredible views, and it houses the Chapawadi, which is the tallest mountain in Nigeria.

    The Gashaka National Park has four different ecosystem types which include: Dry Wooden Savannah, Low Land Rainforest, Cloud Forest, and Mountain Grasslands. Sitting on three biodiversity zones in Nigeria, it is the most ecologically diverse park in all of Africa.

    “The most important water catchments for the river Benue supporting the livelihoods of millions of people comes from the park, therefore, it is strategic for Nigeria to protect the place” Morakinyo explained

    The Okomu National Park, on the other hand, is the smallest national park in Nigeria and one of the last surviving forests in the country. It harbors Nigeria’s most critically endangered species of elephants – the Savannah Elephant and the Forest Elephant, both declining in number.

    A management team for the projects which comprises representatives from ANI, the government, and the communities is set to oversee the work which will begin from outside the parks. This is imperative as illegal billion-dollar industrial-scale logging for rosewood trees and timber are ongoing which needs to be curbed before it permeates the parks themselves.

    Going further in the lecture, Morakinyo outlined the five key principles which ANI has adopted to achieve its goals, they are:

    • To restore a fully functioning park with an intact ecology by eliminating banditry, cattle grazing, and logging. Therefore, park rangers need to be fully equipped with weapons and other necessary gadgets for the protection of the park.
    • Co-management with the government as the government can not be solely responsible for the preservation of these parks, all the affected stakeholders need to get involved.
    • The parks must be an engine for investment, development, and employment to stop exploitation such as logging
    • It has to be financially self-sustaining by keeping the parks safe enough to be attractive to tourists and researchers alike, selling carbon credits from trees planted thereby generating revenue.
    • Change the hearts and minds of Nigerians towards nature. Help them see it in a different light and be drawn to it.

    He in conclusion called for the support of both the management team and private individuals to help in the various ways they can to see to the actualization of this lofty vision of ANI.

  • Nigeria inaugurates committee on plastic management

    Nigeria inaugurates committee on plastic management

    On Tuesday 6th of December 2022, the minister of environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, inaugurated a committee to promote a sustainable plastics value chain through circular economy practices.

    The aim of the inauguration which took place in Abuja was for its
    members to provide technical assistance and guidance to the project.

    The inauguration got kickstarted at a time when the global community was focused on negotiating the establishment of a legally binding instrument for environmentally sound management of plastic throughout its entire lifecycle the Minister noted.

    He said: “Misuse of plastic and poor management of its wastes pose danger to human health and the environment

    “Such poor management leaks toxic chemical constituents such as endocrine disrupting chemicals which have been linked to infertility, diabetes, prostate/breast cancer, into foods, drinks, and the environment.

    “Also, tons of improperly disposed of plastic wastes litter our streets; clog up drainages in rural and urban areas leading to flooding incidents as experienced in certain parts of the country recently.

    “These have contaminated the soil, thereby affecting farmlands and livestock, littering the oceans and threatening biodiversity, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions when burnt indiscriminately.”

    It was in response to the above-stated challenges that the ministry, in collaboration with the appropriate stakeholders, took action to handle the plastic issue holistically by adopting a circular economy model.

    The minister observed the Japanese government funded a study on available sustainable alternative materials for plastic, innovative packaging, and recycling technologies.

    He further stated that the study conducted in 2021 and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the ministry, revealed a low level of recycling activities in the country.

    “It also revealed that only 45 percent of waste is collected, 80 percent of plastic waste goes to the dumpsite while only 10 percent is recycled.

    “It is against this backdrop that this project was developed to address these gaps,’’ he said

    The Country Representative and Regional Director for West Africa, UNIDO, Mr. Jean Bakole, described plastic waste as a major global environmental problem in the country.

    Bakole, through his representative Dr. Osuji Otu, National Programme Officer, UNIDO said that the production had drastically increased by more than twenty folds between 1964 and 2015, with a yearly output of 322 million metric tonnes.

    He said it is anticipated that the figure will double by the year 2035 and quadruple by the year 2050 if no global effort is made.

    Nigeria has continued to display a leadership role in Africa by developing various initiatives and partnerships at combating plastics and solid waste pollution despite the increase in plastic waste generation Bakole said.

    Furthermore, Bakole reaffirmed UNIDO’s dedication to working with the government through the ministry and other stakeholders, toward achieving inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

    The Japanese ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyosi, declared that the committee was to oversee the plastic circular economy project by monitoring the project’s implementation progress.

    Kazuyoshi said that the committee would also validate its overall direction and the work plan, and assist in mobilizing resources required for project implementation where necessary.

    He said that the plastic circular economy would be of use in the field of marine plastics.

     

     

  • SLAN commends Taraba state for the adoption of green initiatives

    SLAN commends Taraba state for the adoption of green initiatives

    The Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku has received a commendation from The Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria (SLAN) for the adoption of green initiatives in the state.

    The chairman of SLAN, Mr. Amos Alao, extended this recognition on behalf of the body in a statement signed by him on the 24th of November 2022 in Lagos after a courtesy visit by the society to Taraba Government House.

    The commendation was extended as a result of the many admirable green initiatives introduced by the governor in the state.

    The initiative was documented as the Green Taraba Afforestation Project and the establishment of Rosewood (Madrid) seedlings nursery for the replacement of lumbered trees.

    The statement issued mentioned that the visit was to canvass support, collaboration, and awareness of the landscape architecture profession in the country.

    It said that discussions during the visit centered on various issues such as biodiversity loss, flooding, deforestation, climate change mitigation, and adaptation to achieve a United Nations’ near net zero carbon emission goal by 2050.

    The statement further mentioned that governor Darius praised the efforts of the society in the development of the country.

    The state governor Darius Ishaku, however, enjoined them to do more in the area of advocacy for Nigerians to comprehend the fundamentals of the profession.

    He further encouraged the society to educate Nigerians on the importance of a properly landscaped environment to promote good mental and physical health as well as the socio-economic development of the populace.

    SLAN was founded in 2003 and is affiliated with the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), which is the world body of landscape architects.

    IFLA currently represents 77 national associations from Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East.

    SLAN is one of the five registered Landscape Architecture Associations in Africa.

  • Major outcomes of Cop27 climate summit

    Major outcomes of Cop27 climate summit

    World leaders assembled in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on the 7th and 8th of November to deliberate on how to further deliver on the world climate agenda and translate climate commitments into implementation. The gathering was themed: “Together for Implementation.”

    The various Heads of State and Government who gathered together acknowledged the scientific findings on present and future effects of climate change and realized the weight of the climate emergency facing the earth. The focus was on the fact that the world has experienced unparalleled extreme weather conditions with notable costs that have adversely affected the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable communities.

    The leaders precisely stated that the climate crisis is a principal threat to our planet with lacing significance on the stability, safety, and sustainability of communities globally.

    They also reiterated that it was time to move from pledges to rapid, robust, and impactful implementations.

    In light of the above, leaders welcomed the convening of six multi-stakeholder high-level roundtable discussions over the two days of the Summit that highlighted possible solutions to chart a path to overcome climate challenges and how to provide the finance, resources, and tools to effectively deliver climate action at scale.

    Based on the discussions among the convening world leaders, the COP27 Presidency has captured the following messages:

    Just Transition Roundtable:
    There is an imperative need to further develop strategies and mobilize appropriate and adequate finance, technology transfer, capacity building, and major climate investments from developed to developing countries to ensure a just transition for the most vulnerable communities. It was underlined that innovative financial mechanisms such as debt swaps, concessional loans, and debt reduction frameworks should be developed and leveraged;

    Energy transition should be just and inclusive, aiming at reliable and affordable clean energy resources to ensure energy security, eradicate energy poverty and achieve economic growth. Inclusion must spotlight that transitions will be different and various complexities must be navigated;
    A just transition should take into consideration all socio-economic aspects based on the principles of CBDR and different national circumstances.

    Innovative Finance Roundtable:
    Consistent with the convention and its Paris agreement, public finance remains to be the main source of funding for mitigation and adaptation projects, as well as capacity building in developing countries, to deal with the impacts of climate change;
    Additional finance from the private sector should be deployed in developing countries to contribute to their efforts in combating the adverse impacts of climate change. To enable such finance, there is a need to understand key obstacles and eliminate barriers through relevant policy frameworks;

    Climate finance providers, in particular multilateral and bilateral development banks, are well positioned to increase climate ambition using the breadth of their policy and financial instruments for greater results to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement;
    Scaling up the MDBs’ climate action involves both a significant expansion in the scope of their activities and a major increase in the volume of their financing.
    To realize their full potential in climate action, multi-lateral development banks should undergo the necessary reforms to increase their finance climate projects in developing countries;

    Project readiness and concessional financing including equitable distribution to both developing and developed countries are integral and have to recognize the various vulnerabilities and needs. The disparity in interest rates between developing and developed countries and the need to reduce the cost of capital were indicated. Additionally, there was a collective call to remove existing barriers and bottlenecks to facilitate timely, sufficient, and equitable access to finance.

    Investing in the Future of Energy: Green Hydrogen Roundtable:
    Leaders raised the importance to enhance global cooperation in unlocking the potential of green hydrogen production and application as part of the future of clean energy transformation, and the decarbonization of the hard-to-abate industries and sectors;
    It is essential to support the integration of green hydrogen roadmaps within NDCs, including policies such as public procurement and fiscal incentives that drive the production and use of green hydrogen;
    MDBs, DFIs, and commercial banks are encouraged to include low-carbon hydrogen in their green financing and investing taxonomies (e.g., for green bonds), and to develop incentives for green hydrogen projects, such as differentiated loan interest rates;

    The Global Renewable Hydrogen Forum co-led by Egypt and Belgium was announced, which constitutes a multi-stakeholder public-private platform designed to facilitate large-scale development and deployment of renewable hydrogen to foster decarbonization of local industries, accelerate just transition and unlock the environmental and socio-economic benefits of the global hydrogen economy, and to identify the best instruments enabling the cross-border trade and corridors between renewables-rich developing countries and developed countries to further advance the international green hydrogen value chain.

    Food Security Roundtable:
    The risks of hunger and malnutrition among the most vulnerable groups exacerbated by climate change were stressed. It was agreed that the agriculture sector has a unique position, being on one hand among the most vulnerable to climate change, and on the other a major contributor to GHGs emissions and the main driver of deforestation;

    The transformation of the food systems is a cornerstone in combating climate change including regenerative agricultural practices, reduced trade restrictions, and changes in consumption and diet patterns, as well as looking into alternatives for proteins;
    The implementation of climate-resilient agriculture and food systems requires political will, international cooperation, generation and exchange of knowledge and best practices, as well as financial resources to support producers and value chain actors across the world to operate the necessary transformations;

    An increase in the investment in adaptative and resilient agricultural practices and food systems innovation ecosystems is needed, including innovative financial services, data, and digital infrastructure, wider research, development, and demonstration (RD&D), measures to reduce import dependency and increase on-farm yields of local varieties, improved smallholder farm management skills and cold chain-based commodity associations and measures that consider maladaptation risks.

    Water Security Roundtable:
    The importance of satisfying the basic human need for sustainable access to adequate quantities and acceptable quality of water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and climate-resilient socio-economic development;
    Driving information from data using advanced software techniques is an important pillar in any multi-fora cooperation. Enhanced efforts in existing approaches to transboundary water cooperation, scaling up implementation of water conventions and processes;

    Protecting and managing water resources will require a multi-stakeholder cross-sectoral approach at all levels, to implement the policies and actions that maximize the benefits and avoid causing adverse socio-economic impacts;
    Policies on transboundary water management should be reflected in climate policies while adhering to the principles of inclusive cooperation, constructive engagement, and mutual support among states sharing water resources in implementing water-related adaptation projects;
    The importance of raising public awareness on the mutual interdependence between climate change and water security; and adopting climate-resilient policies for sustainable water management and water-related climate adaptation;
    Water agenda and relevant policies should be elevated across the environmental and economic agenda to ensure the decoupling of freshwater use from economic growth while ensuring water security.
    Climate Change and the Sustainability of Vulnerable Communities Roundtable:
    Support for the vulnerable communities, who are on the frontline of climate change, should no longer be a subject of charity but must be handled in the context of sustainable development, equitably;
    Adapting to evolving climate conditions and recovering from climate impacts driving many countries into greater debt is needed, which is sometimes compounded by the cost of debt due to the economic impacts of lost productive capacity;
    Scaling up climate finance and improving access to climate finance in addition to deploying financing schemes such as debt for climate swaps to help reduce countries’ debt in exchange for climate action and commitments;
    The relationship between humanitarian agencies and the affected communities has to be flipped. Local communities need to guide actions with their local knowledge.

    Adapting to climate change now and developing clean and green technologies is indispensable. It is imperative to convert the Paris commitments into tangible action and ensure that all pledges and promises are delivered and adequate public finance is provided. There is a role for multilateral development banks, and the international financial system as a whole, to step in and support initiatives that will deliver both prosperity and a cleaner, greener future on the different climate-relevant issues.

    Overall discussions reflected general agreement among the heads of state and government on the need to move urgently towards implementation and action on the ground.

  • The vital role of CITES in curtailing wildlife trafficking

    The vital role of CITES in curtailing wildlife trafficking

    The role of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in addressing wildlife trafficking is highly vital. Their priority list of endangered species makes it possible for them to liaise with governments in the fight against wildlife traffickers.

    Kurt Duchez, the Counter Wildlife Trafficking Coordinator for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) explained that having animals such as the Scarlet neck owl, Jaguar, and Sharks, in their appendix, among other endangered species, gives them recognition by the government and support law enforcement activities. Having these animals as their priority species benefits both the country and the government.

    “These species were heavily trafficked and now they need protection,” Duchez said.

    CITES is a global agreement among governments across the world to regulate or prohibit international trade in species under threat. The need for this agreement came into being as governments around the globe began to recognize that trade in some wild animals and plants had a damaging impact on those species. This category of plants and animals was being driven toward extinction through their unsustainable use for food, fuel, medicine, and other purposes.

    CITES was signed into agreement in 1973 when 21 different countries came together in a collaborative effort to address the impacts of international trade in these species.

    The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is made up of 184 member parties and trade is regulated in more than 38,000 species. Representatives meet every two to three years at a Conference of the Parties to review progress and adjust the list of protected species.

    The Senior Policy Advisor, Species Conservation and Advocacy, Leigh Henry talks further on the significance of the convention when he said “The convention is one of the best tools we have for addressing international wildlife crime, and countries must hold each other accountable to make it effective”

    Nigeria became a member of CITES on the 9th of May,1974. However, the country experienced a six-year ban from 2005 to 2011 because of the increase in illegal wildlife trade and a lack of adequate enforcement. The announcement to lift the ban was made in Geneva on the 26th of August 2011 during the 61st meeting of CITES (SC61).

    Nigeria has since then designated the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) as the country’s new CITES enforcement authority and has laid down new wildlife regulations that completely align with CITES provisions and can now be ranked in Category 1 under the CITES legislation project .

  • Nigeria launches Project 250k to curb climate change

    Nigeria launches Project 250k to curb climate change

    Nigeria has inaugurated Project 250k for climate change. The project is geared towards supporting the Nigerian youth to plant and tend 250,000 tress across the country.

    The project was launched at he COP27 conference in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, where the Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Sunday Dare said his ministry and that of Environment will encourage and harmonise contributions from youths towards mitigating climate change in Nigeria.

    “Young people are valuable contributors to climate action as agents of change, entrepreneurs and innovators hence their mobilisation shows meaningful contributions in achieving the objectives of COP 27 and beyond,” he said.

    Dare implored the youths to continue to lend their support to the government in it’s effort to ensure a better future for all. He also commended the youths for their resilient effort in climate change mitigation.

    “The goal is to make sure that we are not just planting the trees but the awareness is generated, they plant the trees and also become ambassadors for climate change,” Dare added

    The minister for Environment Mohammed Abdullahi noted that “the youths must be involved in all climate change mitigation effort of Nigerian government going forward”

    He further enjoined young people to participate actively in climate action programs and to accomplish specific results for themselves and the country.