Nigeria to Leverage on Digital Solutions to Combat Illegal Wildlife 

The Nigerian government has reiterated the importance of leveraging digital solutions to address challenges facing planet’s ecosystems and combating legal wildlife trade.

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment Mr Barabe Lawal stated this at “the Commemoration of the World Wildlife Day and Presentation of the Findings and Recommendations of ICCWC Toolkit Report for Nigeria” held in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Minister said rapidly evolving digital landscape, technological advancements offer Nigeria opportunities to enhance conservation efforts and forge deeper connections between humanity and the natural world.

“By leveraging innovative solutions, we not only amplify our capacity to protect endangered species but also foster greater connectivity between people and the planet they call home. Digital conservation transcends geographical boundaries, fostering global collaboration and knowledge sharing among scientists, conservatives, and communities worldwide,” he said.

He also said Nigerians must prioritize the protection of digital ecosystems themselves, guard against cyber threats and safeguarding data integrity

“As we embrace the promise of digstal conservation, we must also remam
mindful of its imitations and potential risks. We must ensure that technological interventions are ethically sound, culturally sensitive, and inclusiveness with diverse perspectives,” he stated.

According to the Minister, the Federal Ministry of Environment has been in the fore front in ensuring the protection and conservation of the nation’s rich biodiversity of wild fauna and flora through the full protection of listed endangered species through the ESA Act and National Park Service Act through protection, awareness creation and press releases against Wildlife killings.

The Representative of the Conservator General National Park Service, Mr Mohammed Kabir, appealed to the local and international Non-Governmental Organizations to support the conservation efforts of the National Park Service, NPS.

He said government alone should not be left with environmental and wildlife issues.

“It is common knowledge that people around the world readily rely on wildlife and biodiversity-hased resources to meet their needs such as food, to fuel, medicines, housing and clothing, thus, it can only be fair to state here that from when the commemoration first came into effect (in 2013) and now, the natural world had consistently been subjected to immense pressure, both from man’s inordinate and unsustainable activities such as habitat destruction through illegal logging, hunting mining and exploration, amongst others, to natural upheavals such as landslides, earthquakes, flooding,” he said.

Me Kabir added that the recent creation of 10 additional new National Parks is aimed to further enhance conservation activities, increase the forest cover protection management, improve internal security and ultimately reduce the negative impacts.

Representative UNODC Country Office Nigeria, Mr Oliver Stolpe said UNODC will be supporting the development and launch of a communications strategy
to strengthen the appreciation of Nigerians for the diversity of Nigerian Flora and Funa.

He said the UN agency has planned to engage young people as agent of change and employ thier creativity as well as technology savviness in helping to protect the environment and show to Nigerians the beauty of thier land.

“As we remind ourselves of the importance of preserving and protecting Nigeria’s rich biodiversity, permit me to recall some of the key findings from the wildlife chapter of UNODC ‘s organized Crime threat Assessment for Nigeria, published in 2023, the assessment found that Nigeria is a key transit hub and consolidation point for various forms of illegal trade in wildlife and forest products especially for pangolin, ivory and rosewood,” he explained.

The theme of this year’s commemoration, “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation” According to most participants is apt as it focuses on digital conservation technologies and services to drive wildlife conservation, sustainable and legal wildlife trade, and human-wildlife coexistence.

The 2024 theme further recognizes the impact of digital interventions on ecosystems and communities in an increasingly connected world.

The presentation of the findings of International Consortium for Combating Wildlife and Forestry Crime (ICCWC) Toolkit is a defining moment for all to join hands and take up roles in the fight against Wildlife and Forestry Crimes.