The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), a foremost environmental NGO in Nigeria, dedicated to nature conservation and biodiversity resource management, recently joined the global community to commemorate the 2021 World Environment Day (WED) with the theme: “Ecosystem Restoration.”
Mr Oladapo Soneye, NCF’s Head of Communications in a statement noted that Ecosystem restoration means assisting in the recovery of ecosystem that has been degraded or destroyed, as well as conserving the ecosystem that is still intact.
“Healthier ecosystem, with richer biodiversity, yield greater benefits such as more fertile soils, nature nurturing humans etc,’’ he added.
He said that NCF was supported by Dangote Group Plc, NLNG, IHS Nig Ltd, FCMB, Access Bank Plc, Union Bank, Soroptimist International Ikoyi amongst others in the fruit and tree planting exercise in the 20 selected schools in Lagos.
The exercise commenced on June 7 and was concluded June 18.
NCF had lined up key activities promoting restoration of the ecosystem across the nation, as this year’s theme was in line with the goals of the Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN) Initiative of NCF.
The highpoint of the NCF weeklong activities for WED 2021 was a hybrid event on Thursday, June 10, 2021, at its National Headquarters in Lekki, Lagos.
The event which was held with strict compliance to all COVID-19 safety protocols was followed by setting up school gardens and fruit tree orchards in 20 selected schools across different locations within Lagos State.
According to Soneye `school grounds cannot be neglected as climate change impact is being felt allover Nigeria, therefore, the trees planted will provide much needed shade, cooling and creating more pleasant environment for the children to play.
“Moreover, trees absorb carbon-dioxide from the air to grow, having trees will reduce the high rate of carbondioxide that heats up the atmosphere.
“Planting trees on school grounds provide fencing and fruit for school children and teachers. Trees planted on school grounds also provide opportunities for environmental education, getting young children thinking about environmental conservation early.
Meanwhile, at Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State, community sensitization meetings was held, with NCF planting 400 coconut seedlings along the seashore to provide protection for the riverbank.
Also, the foundation engaged the people on beach clean-up exercise.
At Calabar, Cross River State, NCF in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Education, University of Calabar, and selected secondary schools from Calabar Metropolis as well as other civil society groups commemorated the event within the University environment.
“Some of the activities carried out included: Tree planting, a short walk for nature, clean up exercise and an outdoor talk on the theme for the event.
“Anyone can be part of this by actively planting a tree or by helping to remove pressure on nature so that nature can recover on its own. It is not an easy task to return an ecosystem to its original state, but it is a desirable and necessary urgent action to be taken.
He said that over the past four decades, NCF has been in the fore of securing a better future for nature conservation and sustainable livelihoods for people and wildlife resources in Nigeria.
“Myriads of projects have been initiated to achieve this. The Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN) is one of such initiatives, borne out of the dire need to retain a significant proportion of Nigeria’s landmass under forest. For instance, a total of 1,713,750 was planted in the 2020 planting season.
