Insecurity: Experts Call for Investing in Conservation Projects of Forest

Experts in the field of Biodiversity Conservation have called on the government, both at the federal and state levels, to consider investing in conservation projects so as to take over the use of forest reserves.

The professionals lamented that many forests reserves across the country which could have helped enhance food and national security if properly harnessed, have been turned into hideouts for criminals.

The experts spoke in separate remarks during an online summit organised by the GIS Konsult Limited to commemorate the 2021 Endangered Species Day tagged: “Preserving Biodiversity”.

Setting the tone, the Director of National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NAGRAB), Dr Sunday Aladele, said biodiversity conservation is very important for food security and poverty reduction in the country.

According to him, a lot of plants and animals have become threatened due to industrialised agriculture and unchecked tree felling.

Aladele said: “Biodiversity does not only include wildlife, it also includes plants of different genetics. Many neglected and underutilised species are getting lost due to the destruction of their habitat, indiscriminate tree felling and other human activities.” 

“These threaten biodiversity and may contribute to food insecurity and poverty in the future. Many of these species are already extinct without our knowledge. If we are going to avoid future food crisis, the time for us to act is now,” he stated.

According to Aladele, the conservation of threatened crop species is even more important now than ever due to climate change, saying many staple crops may not survive into the future due to climate change while the neglected and underutilised crops may be the ones that hold the answer to the future due to their resilience.

While speaking, the Project Manager, Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), a flagship project of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Mr Ademola Ogunsesan, said that biodiversity conservation is key to not only food security but also national security.

He said “Many unattended forest reserves are now hideouts for criminals and bandits. This has become a major security challenge for the country. Therefore, investing in conservation projects is very important and will keep away criminal groups from these forests.”

The Chief Executive Officer, GIS Konsult Limited, Mr David Afolayan, urged all Nigerians to support conservation efforts aimed at protecting threatened and endangered species in the country for sustainable development and for posterity.

He also encouraged that awareness for the conservation of endangered species be raised among students in secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Hauwa Mustapha