As Lagos joins the global community in celebrating World Wetland Day, the State Government on Friday called for concerted efforts to address wetland quality decline through wetland restoration.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated this when he spoke with newsmen.
He equally listed other means of restoring the wetland to include addressing pollution and cleaning up of freshwater resources across the state.
Wahab stressed that addressing the decline will also include increasing water efficiency, integrating wetlands into development plans and resource management.
He said the day is celebrated globally on February 2 to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and the best approach to protect this most productive ecosystem on the planet.
Highlighting the year 2024 theme: “Wetland and human wellbeing,” Wahab added that the 2024 campaign spotlights wetlands as a critical ecosystem to people and nature as well as recognising the intrinsic value of wetland ecosystems and their benefits to human existence.
He explained that loss of Wetlands is a global issue that requires urgent mitigation, bearing in mind that 35 percent of global Wetlands have been lost in 55 years based on the Global Wetland Outlook of 2018.
Wahab added that it is unfortunate some of the world’s wetlands are under threat because of human activities such as construction of houses and other structures on the wetland that is supposed to house diverse species of birds, fish and amphibians, thus draining the wetlands.
He stressed that the impacts emanating from these urbanisation include water scarcity, exposure to flooding, extreme weather events, loss of livelihoods and well-being as well as food insecurity.
The Commissioner explained that Wetlands include rivers, lakes, marshes, rice fields, and coastal areas, adding that it is of prime importance as it connects communities to the benefits of mother nature.
He said Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits and ecosystem services that they provide to humanity.
He stated that two of the most important wetland ecosystem services affect human well-being through the provision of freshwater and fish for humans, while residents living near wetlands are highly dependent on these services and directly harmed by their degradation.
He added that despite these great natural services, wetland quality has continued to decline, which necessitated the clarion call for action and protection of these wetlands.
Also Read:
- Police constable recruitment: Successful candidates get date to resume training
- House Public Accounts Committee recovers additional $14m from oil companies
- Eid al-Fitri: Obasa felicitates Muslims, urges support, prayers for Tinubu
- Aisha Achimugu declared wanted by EFCC speaks, defends business practice
- Police rescue two kidnap victims, hunt for alleged abductors
Wahab stressed that Wetlands help to regulate the climate, adding that they store twice as much carbon as forests, with salt marshes mangroves and seagrass beds also holding vast amounts of carbon.
The Commissioner said the government has been making concerted efforts to protect Wetlands and prevent them from further degradation within the State through different programmes and projects.
He outlined some of these programmes to include routine monitoring of the identified Wetlands in the State, public awareness in the three Senatorial Districts in the State and erection of warning signposts on identified Wetlands in the State.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
