Partnerships key to protecting wildlife in Nigeria

Wild Africa Fund has urged the Nigerian government and conservation organisations to partner to combat forest and wildlife crime to protect the country’s biodiversity.

The wildlife conservation group made this known in a statement made available by its Nigerian representative, Kelechukwu Iruoma, in commemoration of the World Wildlife Day, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of wildlife in our ecosystem.

Wild Africa Fund is an Africa-focused non-profit organisation wildlife advocacy that is committed to protecting Nigeria’s wildlife but admits that this cannot be achieved without partnership.

According to the group, this year’s theme, ‘Partnerships for Wildlife,’ emphasises the crucial role partnership plays in protecting and preserving wildlife for biodiversity conservation as protecting the abundant species and their habitats in the Nigerian ecosystem is essential not only for their survival but also for the health and well-being of the ecosystem and the livelihoods of the host communities that depend on them.

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WAF noted that Nigeria is home to some of the world’s most iconic wildlife species such as elephants, lions and gorillas. But illegal activities such as poaching, deforestation, and illegal wildlife trade have put these animals in danger, thereby threatening their existence.

Nigeria has also become the transit hub for the illegal trade in ivory and pangolin scales.

Speaking on the World Wildlife Day, the founder of Wild Africa Fund, Peter Knights, said, “By partnering the government, international and local NGOs, media, and local communities, we can achieve greater impact and ensure a brighter future for wildlife in Africa and beyond.”

“Collaboration is the best hope that we have of ensuring that Nigeria’s natural resources are protected for future generations.”

In furtherance of its commitment to conserving wildlife in Nigeria, WAF collaborates with organisations such as the Environmental Investigation Agency and Africa Nature Investors Foundation with support from the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to support the Nigerian government to update its wildlife laws and combat illegal wildlife trade.

WAF also revealed that there had been progress in collaboration as the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill passed its first reading in the House of Representatives in February 2023, demonstrating the organisations and government’s commitment to wildlife conservation.

Speaking on the bill, ANI’s Executive Director, Tunde Morakinyo said, “This new legislation will be critical to enabling Nigeria to decisively tackle the illegal trade in wildlife and will demonstrate to the world that the country can be a leader on the African continent for an issue that affects all Nigerians and indeed all of us as human beings.”