President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday in New York, declared that Federal Government has initiated some specific actions to tackle and reverse the severe trend of bio-diversity loss which affects the whole world.
The President spoke in a video message to the hybrid High-Level event tagged “Transformative Actions for Nature and People” on the margins of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, (UNGA 76).
The President noted that Nigeria, like other countries, had a wide array of rich and invaluable national heritage that include an impressive network of wetlands, wildlife and forestry resources.
The Nigerian leader told the summit convened by the President of the 75th UNGA, Ambassador Volkan Bozkir, that his administration had also approved a new National Forest Policy in July this year to ensure continuous socio-economic development.
The President explained that the new policy would provide optimal benefits to the people and government of Nigeria in a sustainably managed environment.
He added that the Nigerian government was also considering the development of a National Mangrove Restoration project to deliver qualitative livelihood benefits to the Niger-Delta region.
”The government is equally incorporating biodiversity into tourism sector through a national programme targeted at combating illegal wildlife trade and trafficking in two pilot protected area sites, namely: Gashaka-Gumti National Park; and Yankari Games Reserve,’’ President Buhari said.
According to the President, the programme to combat illegal wildlife will contribute to the growth and development of a vibrant nature-based tourism sector that prevents the extinction of threatened species.
He expressed gratitude to the President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, whose country currently chairs the High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People (HAC), of which Nigeria is also a member and co-chair for the opportunity to be part of “this great event”.
