UNDP  Partners with Nigeria To Create Awareness About Threats To Pollinators

Ene Okwanihe, Abuja

The National Trialogue Working Group on Pollinator-Friendly Land Degradation Neutrality Country Action Plan under the United Nations Development Programme has partnered with the Nigerian government to mark the World Bee Day by holding an art exhibition to build capacity of young school children in the FCT on the importance of protecting pollinators particularly Bees as they are essential to attaining food security.

In recent times human activities such as industrialization, harmful agriculture practices like the use of herbicides and pesticides and use of harmful chemicals in the atmosphere has posed a threat to pollinators.

For a balanced ecosystem, pollinators need to be around long enough to maintain the balance and to do that everyone needs to play their part in ensuring that harmful practices that pose a threat to their existence are brought to a halt.

The 2021 World Bee day with the theme “Bee Engaged” aims to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem and  By the theme, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has requested Countries to focus on raising awareness on bee-keeping and importance of bee derived products in commemoration of the day.

While declaring the exhibitions open the Minister of State for Environment Chief Sharon Ikeazor pointed out that bees are not only important for the growing of fruits, vegetables and Nuts but a sustained bee keeping is of great benefits to the entire world.

“we all know pollination benefits human nutrition, enabling not only the productions of an abundance of fruits, vegetables, nut seeds but also variety and a better quality  in addition bees and sustainable beekeeping play a vital role in sustaining livelihood all over the world, the bees are important partners in achieving our SDG’s”

Ikeazor noted that bees promote Biodiversity and urgent actions need to be taken to institute policies that reduce pesticides risk to pollinators while calling for support for beekeepers.

She said the move by some stakeholders to bring to the fore the importance of safeguarding pollinators and creating awareness by building the capacity of primary and secondary school students is a welcome development.

“do this initiative to teach young people about benefits of pollinators and what housing pollinator habitat looks like and how to protect pollinator through ecosystem friendly practices that support the environment and boost food security is a very welcome move”

She further called on youth advocacy groups in the country and other stakeholders to recognize the roles of bees and pollinators to the world adding that the school children should also join in spreading the awareness on the importance of bees to their friends and family.

In her goodwill message the representative of Dr. Anne Juepner of the UNDP Global Policy Centre of Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification said human activities and climate change has gravely endangered the existence of pollinators.

“Bees and other pollinators are constantly endangered mainly from us humans and also from climate change. Without bees and their dances from flower to flower we would not be able to enjoy our daily dishes or the way we live life today”

 

She added that it is hoped that the awareness being created by the art exhibition would go a long way in enlightening people on the importance of Bees and other pollinators to the environment.

She further encouraged the student to ensure they pass on the knowledge they have acquired from the event and also do their part to protect pollinators.

On his part Mr. Shown Melbourne from the British High Commission noted that a large number of people living in poverty depend on the environment, its biodiversity and natural resources which is why there’s urgent action to be taken to safeguard pollinators.

“The livelihood of 70% of people living in poverty today depend directly on the environment, its biodiversity and natural resources, countries around the world are therefore rightly demanding urgent actions on nature and if are to meet the Paris agreement, we need a bold step transition on the way we use the land and ocean”

He added that the UN COP 26 climate change summit coming up in November which the UK is hosting would seek to reinforce and amplify the linkages between climate change and biodiversity which is very important to ensuring that changes needed to tackle the issues are realized.

Immediately after declaring the exhibition open she was conducted round the exhibition where she interacted and encouraged the students who had their art works on display.

Students from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Government Junior Secondary School Jikwoyi, Government Secondary School Gwagwalada,  Government Technical Secondary School Garki and Funtaj International School Asokoro all had art works on display.

Though all participating schools got certificates of participation the schools with the outstanding art works went away with plaques and smart gadgets and the schools were; Government Secondary School Gwagwalada, Government Junior Secondary Jikwoyi and Funtaj International School Asokoro.

Beautiful bee inspired art works done by the student were displayed by the student.

According to the United Nations, Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.

Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of the ecosystems.

Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

The UNDP is working with the support of BES-NET, Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in Germany, SwedBio and IPBES.