I had the opportunity to reflect on the World Wildlife Day which was observed recently on March 3. It is a significant part of the tourist experience and the native space for all those who work in tourism. This is especially true when nature continues to suffer from a series if impacts that have led climate change to be apparent in heat waves, rising water levels, massive flooding, desertification, and other effects that are all fundamentally changing the environment that we know, love, and work with.
There is also a continuing loss of biodiversity, due to the constant decimation of wildlife stocks, including the flora, fauna, and plants that have contributed to the beauty and balance of the natural ecosystem.
Our continuing obsession with experiencing the natural, as well as the built environment through tourist can only be sustainable if we are aware that there is an emergency and are making the necessary efforts to mitigate it.
Today, I am proud to support the advocacy of a variety of actors in Nigeria and around the world who understand the stakes in preserving and protecting nature, the ecosystem and all its colors, and preventing their destruction in very deliberate ways.
The global warming caused by the destruction of the atmospheric oxygen layer as a result of human progress, and the resulting changes in our consumption habits, has been unavoidable. This has been attendant upon the upsurge of greenhouse gases from the burning of hydrocarbons, as much as it has been due to industrial emissions, deforestation, alongside other environmentally-impacting economic activities.
In the last century, our rainforests have been steadily depleted. The savannahs, mangrove forests, and other ecosystems have also changed. Meanwhile, the Sahel has continued to encroach on our biodiversity, animals, and wildlife species. These species are either moving or dying in massive waves of transcontinental migration.
Nigeria’s biodiversity loss and endowment
The Nigerian biodiversity has been a key part of the tourism endowment since time immemorial. It motivates people to travel to areas where certain species or plants are in existence, both for their nutritional and therapeutic benefits. The human population has grown exponentially, increasing the need to hunt, game, and harvest these biodiversity resources. This has triggered a significant decline in their availability, which in turn has prompted a strong need for protection.
The biodiversity treasure trove in Nigeria includes nearly eight thousand species, spread across more than 300 families and over 2,200 genera. There are over 22,000 species both vertebrate or invertebrate species. These include some 20,000 insects and more than 1,000 birds, 1,000 fishes, and 123 reptiles. There are also 247 species of mammals. A total of 1,500 microorganisms have also been recorded. This is essential for the country’s extraordinary biodiversity.
Despite the many and varied nature of these treasures the human activities that have driven progress and advancement over the past century have resulted in huge losses in biodiversity. While many species have been lost, many others remain at risk of poaching and illegal gaming/hunting, climate change, or other factors. A number of endangered species of Nigerian wildlife have been identified, including the ostrich and gorilla, greyparrot, generas of crocodiles. African manatee, chimpanzees, giraffes, giraffes, giraffes, hippopotamus (water chevrotain), Ariel gazelle, and African stone python.
Some plants/trees that are at risk of losing their habitat include the African teak and F.White or. Diospyros elliotii(Hiern), African wood, fennel flower (or NIGella sativa), sausage tree or Kigelia. Traditional chewing stick or Masilania accuminataThen the Garcina Manni, Oucunbaca aubrevillei, Erythrina Senegalensis, Cassia nigricans, and Hymenocardia acida, etc.
Stopping biodiversity loss and decline
The creation of the World Wildlife Day in December 2013 was a result of recognition of the immense value of animal biodiversity around the world, their valuable contributions to the ecosystem and alarm at their gradual disappearance due to man-made and natural factors. This was made possible by the proclamation of the 68th session of United Nations General Assembly (CITES), which adopted the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). March 3 was designated as the day to celebrate and raise awareness about the world’s wildlife and wild flora and flora.
Although it is estimated that more than a million species, including wildlife, of wild fauna and floral species are in imminent danger of extinction, the 2022 World Wildlife Day theme was Recovering key animals for ecosystem restoration to emphasize the need for conservation and protection. This aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 13, 14, and 15. All of which affirm the necessity for commitments towards sustainable use of the planet’s resources and their conservation.
The 2022 World Wildlife Day reflects the urgency of restoring the planet’s biodiversity and restoring the ecosystem. A network of protected areas was created in Nigeria to protect wildlife and other important species. This includes a biosphere reserve and nine national parks, more than 400 forest reserves, 30 games reserves, and close to a dozen nature preserves.
Natural tourism landscapes
Apart from the forests and games reserves, the nine national parks are some of the most important protected areas in Nigeria for biodiversity and wildlife. They cover approximately 2.4 million hectares. These parks are remarkable eco-tourism destinations and have over 1,300 species of animals, including 800 birds. They also support hundreds of rare fauna and flora.
These diverse ecological domains contain many historical and cultural monuments. They make up the Chad Basin National Park, north-eastern Nigeria. It includes the Sambisa Game Reserve as well as the Hadejia Nguru Wetlands. The Cross River National Park also includes the Okwangwo-Oban sections that span some 4,000 kms of rainforests to both the central and northern parts, and the mangrove swamps along the coast.
Gashaka-Gumti National Park is also available. It is a combination of two games reserves that runs from Taraba and Adamawa to the Nigerian border with Cameroon. The Kainji National Park is located between Niger and Kwara States. This includes the Kainji Lake, which is closed to fishing, the Zuguruma Game Reserve, to the southeast, and the Borgu Game Reserve, to the west. They cover an area totalling 5,341 km2.
The Kamuku National Park is located in Kaduna State and covers 1,120 kilometres. The ecology here is mainly Sudan Savanna. While the Old Oyo National Park runs through Oyo’s northern portion and Kwara’s southern parts, the Old Oyo National Park crosses the Oyo state. The Jos Wildlife National Park is located in Plateau, Nigeria’s north-central region. The Yankari National Park is located in Bauchi, Nigeria. It extends to the country’s north-eastern regions. Okomu National Park is located in the Ovia South-West local government area in Edo state. This vast forest area covers more than 1,082 km2.
We are bound to continue to improve our efforts in conservation and protection of biodiversity. This includes the unique fauna and flora that make up our ecosystem and natural habitats. This has been a key objective of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in its policies on nature, whose balance we all depend on for our survival on this planet and the enjoyment of tourism. This is not only consistent with international standards and ideals such as the Sustainable Development Goals but also reflects real pragmatism.
The British established many of these forest reserves, which were later made into national parks or conservation zones. However, it is urgent that we all preserve this legacy. We should encourage others to join us at the National Tourism Development Corporation to help us continue to enjoy all that biodiversity and the environment have to share.
Feminists are the future of tourism and the world.
I won’t end my essay on the need to protect nature and the environment without a salutation to our womenfolk. They do much of the work in tourism directly and through its associated sector, in keeping with the spirit of the International Womens Day 2022, which was held just March 8.
It is clear that women make up half of the world’s population, in Nigeria and around half of the world’s total population. However, they are still bound by tradition, conventions, and society which limits their potential and limits their possibilities. We can unlock the future we want and make it possible by becoming feminists. We can also support our womenfolk in achieving their potential and breaking down all the prejudices that have been placed in their path. God, help us.
Coker, the Baba Eto of Yorubaland as well as director general of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation is the chief marketer for Nigerian destinations
