The Federal Government says the decline of wildlife population is threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Speaking during the commemoration of 2024 World Wildlife Day on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stressed the need to bridge the gap between humanity and nature.
Lawal said the Ministry had been in the forefront of efforts towards ensuring the protection and conservation of Nigeria’s rich biodiversity of wild fauna and flora.
The theme of the 2024 World Wildlife Day is ‘Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation’.
The minister said the theme underscored the pivotal role of technology in safeguarding Nigeria’s precious wildlife.
“In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, technological advancements offer us unprecedented opportunities to enhance conservation efforts and forge deeper connections between humanity and the natural world.
“From cutting- edge monitoring systems to innovative data analytics, digital tools empowers us to better understand, protect and preserve our wildlife.
“Together, let us double our efforts and harness the transformative power of technology to forge stronger connections between people and planet, and safeguard the irreplaceable treasures of our natural world,” he said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Kambari, said it was imperative to reflect on the critical role that wildlife played in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystems and sustaining life on earth.
“From the majestic elephants roaming the Savannahs to the colourful bird species adorning our skies, each creature contributes to the intricate web of life that sustains us all.
“However, we are deeply aware of the threats facing our wildlife such as wildlife trade, poaching, habitat destruction, pollution, climate change among others.’’
He said these challenges have resulted in the decline of wildlife population thereby threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Nigerian Govt decries decline in wildlife population