The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has called for synergy among stakeholders to fight environmental degradation, as it planted 5,000 mangroves around the National Theatre in Lagos.
Its Director-General, Dr Joseph Onoja, made the call while speaking with journalists at the sidelines of the foundation’s Annual Green Ball event held at the Muson Centre, Lagos.
Onoja said the green ball was used to create awareness and seek support for nature and environmental issues.
“As we always say, we cannot do it alone as NCF. We do it with all our partners coming together and also call for more people to join us as we work for nature and the environment, so the environment will eventually work for us,” he said.
According to him, strategic partnerships are critical to actualising NCF’s goal of promoting green recovery, fighting climate change, and preserving biodiversity.
Onoja said this year, the NCF would focus on the Rio Conventions – United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
“We want all of them to come together to create that synergy so that the resources that can be used to take care of one can also be used to take care of all.
“We don’t want the situation whereby, while you are combating one, you are exacerbating another one.
“For instance, you don’t want to be combating climate change while at the same time, creating biodiversity loss, deforestation and so on,” he said.
Onoja emphasised that the UNCCD seeks to protect livelihoods in arid and semi-arid regions, prevent forced migration caused by land degradation and contribute to achieving food security and ecosystem resilience.
“For instance, last year we looked at mangrove restoration. Mangrove restoration ties into what we call our Green Recovery Nigeria programme, which is ongoing.
“So this year, we have planted over 20,000 mangroves in communities along the coastal region.
“Even here in Lagos, we are working with the National Theatre to restore the mangrove in the wetlands there.
“In that area alone, we planted over 5,000 mangrove seedlings,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of the National Theatre wetlands, Onoja said the wetlands are valuable for flood protection, recreation, and aesthetics.
“This is why that place is very important. So we work very closely with the Bankers Committee, who are working on renovating the National Theatre to ensure that the mangrove ecosystem there is restored,” Onoja said.
The director-general said the event was also to raise funds for different NCF environmental programmes, commending partners who had been supporting the foundation’s work.
Similarly, Justice Bukola Adebiyi, Chairman of NCF’s National Executive Council (NEC), said the event had been impactful over the years, assisting in promoting conservation issues and raising funds for projects.
She urged everyone to take climate change seriously, while also advising the protection of the environment.
By Henry Oladele
