FG To Address Wildlife Challenges With Digital Innovation

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Wildlife Day, the Federal Government has pledged to harness the transformative potential of digital innovation in addressing the myriad of challenges facing the planet’s ecosystems.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal who stated this during the Commemoration of the 2024 WorldLife Day on Tuesday, added that today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, technological advancements offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance conservation efforts and forge deeper connections between humanity and the natural world.

“As we commemorate World Wildlife Day, we must recognize the critical importance of leveraging digital solutions to address the myriad of challenges facing our planet’s ecosystems notably combating illegal wildlife trade, mitigating habitat loss, tackling the impacts of climate change among others.

“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, conservationists, and communities worldwide. By harnessing the collective power of technology, we can unite in our efforts to safeguard biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come,” he said.

He, however, stated that to embrace the promise of digital conservation, the nation must also remain mindful of its limitations and potential risks.

“We must ensure that technological interventions are ethically sound, culturally sensitive, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Furthermore, we must prioritize the protection of digital ecosystems themselves, guarding against cyber threats and safeguarding data integrity,” he said.

Lawal noted that the Federal Ministry of Environment has been in the forefront in ensuring the protection and conservation of the nation’s rich biodiversity of wild fauna and flora through the its activities among which include 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.

He also disclosed ongoing efforts to sign an MoU between the government of Nigeria and Cameroon on transboundary ecosystems conservation and sustainable management of forestry and wildlife resources.