18/07/2024
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE ENVIRONMENT, Dr. IZIAQ A. SALAKO
AT THE MANGROVE IN FOCUS CONFERENCE: HARNESSING NATURE’S BASED SOLUTION FOR CLIMATE, LIVELIHOOD AND BIODIVERSITY IN NIGERIA
18th JULY, 2024
AT FRASER SUITE HOTEL, ABUJA.
PROTOCOL,
It is a great pleasure for me to stand before you and deliver my remarks on the occasion of Mangrove in Focus Conference while harnessing Nature’s Based Solution for Climate, Livelihood and Biodiversity in Nigeria being organized by Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This Conference has further confirmed the increasing resolve of this present administration under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in recognizing inclusivity as one of the strategic ways of tackling the numerous challenges bedeviling our environment particularly the mangroves. We have always been persuaded that relevant stakeholders including private sector and non-government organizations are too critical to be left out in the ongoing efforts.
2. A conference like this is therefore timely to complement the efforts of government and underscore the importance of inclusivity in combating the numerous planetary emergencies we are facing today. I have no doubt in my mind that this conference will provide the opportunity for dialogues and result-oriented collaboration among the stakeholders here present as we share knowledge, experiences to enhance understanding on best ways to address the challenges facing our mangrove ecosystems.
3. Mangroves as keystone coastal ecosystems provide critical environmental services and ecological functions, affecting both upland and aquatic resources, including regulation of water quality, a carbon sink hub, breeding and rearing habitats for many species of fish and shellfish, important sources of wood and other forest products to local populations.
4. Ladies and gentlemen, it may interest you to know that, Nigeria has the largest mangrove ecosystems in Africa of about 857 sq.km and the third largest in the world, serving as source of nutrients and energy for adjacent habitats,. Importantly, most of the rural people living close to and interacting with the mangroves depend on it for their means of livelihood both for sustenance and income generation as well as other socio-economic benefits. Mangroves are biodiversity hotpots for diverse species supporting ecological balance, being source of traditional medicine, and offering opportunity for eco-tourism to support local economies.
5. Cross River State as you all know, houses most of the untainted mangroves with no oil exploration activities, and the swath of this mangroves forest hosts some of the world iconic species of fishes, crabs, oysters, black, red and white mangrove of the Rhizophoras species, Calabar Mangrove ecosystems houses the endangered/endemic species of wild animals such Gorilla gorilla diehi popularly known as the Cross River Gorilla and the Sclater’s guenon (Cercopithecus sclateri), also known as Sclater’s monkey. It is an established fact that the coastal and marine areas of the Niger delta region in Nigeria are amongst some of the richest hotspots in Africa in terms of biological and minerals resources.
6. Unfortunately, this important ecosystem has continued to suffer indiscriminate and unsustainable exploitation due to increasing population and the emerging socio-economic demands which have consequently affected its valued but vulnerable plant and animal species as well as its enormous carbon habitat. Additionally, invasion of the mangroves by species like (Nypa Palm, Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth), land-use change as well as global climate extremes events have resulted in reducing the productivity of these ecosystem and causing avoidable loss of income as well as food to the community. Invasive species equally clog water ways and makes transportation of goods and services difficult from the mangroves to the hinterlands.
7. As you are aware, Nigeria as a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Abidjan Convention, and other related regional and sub-regional agreements remains committed to her obligations to protect, restore and ensure sustainable management of her marine ecosystem. The series of ongoing efforts including the actualization of the KM-GBF, alignment of National Targets to Global Targets, updating our NBSAP, ratification of the BBNJ Treaty as well as keeping the momentum in the coordination process in the sub-region are evidential of this commitment. Nigeria is playing a frontline role for the implementation of target 19a of the KM-GBF through the Ministerial Alliance for Ambition on Nature Finance (MAANF), launched in at COP 28, Dubai, UAE. As the Chair of MAANF, I am happy to report that the alliance is growing in membership and influence and is poised to follow through on the commitment of global North countries to provide at 20 billion dollars in nature financing by 2025 and at least 30 billion by 2030.
8. Nigeria adopted and endorsed the additional protocols of the Abidjan convention, a UN protocol. One of these protocols is the Calabar Protocol on Sustainable Mangrove Management named after Calabar in Nigeria to improve and change the Oceans governance standard. The Nigerian government also, in its effort to rescue and conserve the mangrove ecosystems in the country is collaborating with Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM) and Wetlands International Africa (WIA) under a long term, nine years mangrove for life project with the objectives to:
i) stop degradation of mangrove, restore and manage degraded mangrove forests in 12 countries including Nigeria;
ii) increase the area of healthy, well-managed mangroves; and
iii) improve the livelihoods of rural communities.
9. The Federal Ministry of Environment is currently working on a proposal for the development of a framework for a national mangrove park and the establishment of a gazette mangrove park with a buffer zone and inventory of the mangroves resources, while embracing nature based solutions to support and enhance livelihoods, halt biodiversity loss and mitigate climate change. Through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HPREP), the ministry has mapped out over 3000 hectares of degraded mangrove in Ogboniland for clean up and restoration. Youths and women are also being trained in mangrove restoration and raising of mangrove seedlings.
10. As we gather today to discuss the wonders of mangroves, let us not forget to acknowledge the critical role these ecosystems play in sustaining our planet’s biodiversity, mitigating climate change and in supporting livelihoods. Mangroves are nature’s guardians of our coastlines, providing vital habitat for countless species, shielding communities from storms, and storing carbon dioxide. They are a shining example of nature-based solutions in action.
11. Restoration of these ecosystems is essential for sustaining our well-being, food security and livelihoods of coastal dwellers. It is fundamental to building ecological resilience; mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and adaptation, reversing biodiversity loss, acting as a natural barrier against storms, tsunamis and erosion and safeguarding lives and properties.
12. You will agree with me that realization of the various global goals requires us to double our efforts and daily renew our commitment as time is no longer on our side. I am optimistic that, timely interventions through collective and collaborative efforts can halt these unique ecosystems from further decline while progressive steps are taken to escalate awareness on the need to protect, preserve and conserve the mangroves among our people. The Ministry of Environment appreciate all those that have come together to make this day a reality especially SDN and USAID
13. Thanks for your attention. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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