As we mark World Biodiversity Day in 2024, I thought we could take a moment to reflect on the importance of preserving our natural heritage and diverse ecosystems.

Biodiversity is important for sustaining life on Earth. It provides life with essential resources, from food and medicine to clean water and air. It plays a critical role in climate regulation and resilience against environmental changes. In Nigeria, many communities rely on traditional knowledge of plants and animals for their daily needs and biodiversity is thus intertwined with our cultural heritage and livelihoods.

Why celebrate World Biodiversity Day in Nigeria?

Nigeria is home to a wide variety of ecosystems, each teeming with unique species of flora and fauna. This year’s theme, “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity,” resonates deeply because although Nigeria has made several (one might say) meaningless commitments, the Country is grappling with significant environmental challenges such as deforestation, desertification, and pollution.

Main threats to biodiversity in Nigeria

Despite its importance, Nigeria’s biodiversity faces significant threats. Deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion and illegal logging, is a severe risk to our forests. Poaching and wildlife trafficking is another threat that endangers our unique species. Climate change further exacerbates all relevant challenges, altering habitats and exerting additional pressure on ecosystems.

Like many others, I have written in the past about the degradation of the Niger Delta https://daraalegbeleye.com/the-niger-delta-a-prescription-for-restorative-justice/. The Niger Delta is one of the largest wetland and coastal ecosystems in Africa. It spans over 70,000 square kilometers and is characterized by a complex network of rivers, mangroves, swamps, and forests https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016AGUOSME14A0574A/abstract. It has the largest mangrove forest in Africa and the third-largest in the world. These mangroves are crucial for coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and other vital ecological functions.

Biodiversity in the delta supports fisheries, agriculture, and tourism, which are vital for the local and national economy. The delta’s waterways are home to numerous species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, many of which are vital for local fisheries and global biodiversity. The region supports a range of wildlife, including the endangered West African manatee, the African fish eagle, and various primates. Plant life in the delta includes unique species that provide habitat and food for wildlife, as well as resources for local communities.

It has been several years since the death of activists such as Ken Saro Wiwa who in the very early years started to raise awareness of the ecological and environmental disasters that oil pollution, deforestation and overfishing in the Niger Delta could cause https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2015/11/human-face-oil-pollution-niger-delta/.  

After all this time, amongst other challenges, many people in the region still do not have sustainable access to safe drinking water. Since this article is not about the decimation of the Niger Delta, but rather about preserving our natural ecosystems, I want to emphasize that the reference to the Niger Delta is but a reminder that we have a lot of work to do as a people.

A look at relevant initiatives and actions

Nigeria has committed to various international environmental agreements. For example, Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), purporting our global commitment. I however, do not think that these initiatives or showmanship adequately address the grave threats to biodiversity in our Country. These commitments and agreements must translate into real-world conservation efforts, otherwise, we are at risk as a people.

How you can get involved

Most ordinary citizens can contribute to preserving Nigeria’s biodiversity. Here are a few ways you can contribute:

• Support conservation efforts: Donate to or volunteer with organizations dedicated to wildlife and habitat conservation.
• Raise awareness: Educate others about the importance of biodiversity and the challenges it faces.
• Participate in citizen science: Join projects that monitor local wildlife and habitats, contributing valuable data for conservation efforts.

We have a collective responsibility to ensure that our rich biodiversity thrives for future generations. We should work together to build back better and safeguard the intricate web of life that sustains us all.