The Federal Ministry of Environment has initiated an early action support project workshop in Abuja to implement the Kunming Montreal global biodiversity framework.
Minister of Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako explained that the workshop aims to expand and strengthen protected areas, establish effective targets and indicators for the recovery of the natural world.
At the validation workshop for National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators, Salako highlighted the importance of utilizing tools to reduce threats to biodiversity, emphasizing the guidance provided by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Salako also addressed the vulnerability of the African continent to climate change, species loss and biodiversity destruction, underscoring the impact of exploitation by other countries, particularly in the global north, on African environments and resources.
He stressed the significance of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as the policy instrument for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and emphasised the need to align and validate the NBSAP with the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to accelerate action toward the vision for biodiversity.
Furthermore, he urged for bold action aligned with the urgency of the crisis, advocating for unity in efforts to expand protected areas, secure finance, halt human-induced extinction of wild species, and promote mutual accountability to halt forest loss and degradation.
Salako expressed confidence that Nigeria can lead the way in implementing national biodiversity targets and assured continued support from the Federal Government in the effective implementation of instruments such as NBSAP to build sustainability and conservation in the country. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to the ECOWAS coordination process and the ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty.
Lastly, he charged stakeholders with delivering on their obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and other related multi-lateral agreements.
