As the world marks Earth Day, Prof. Funmi Aderounmu, Provost, Federal College of Forestry (FCF), Ibadan, Oyo State, has called for environmental friendly conservation and sustainable agricultural practices.
Aderounmu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ibadan on the heels of 2021 World Earth Day with the theme: “Restore Our Earth’’.
He also stressed the need for the country to support innovations that would lead to environmental protection.
The provost said that degradation of the ecosystem had become an environmental problem in the lives of species.
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According to her, the 2021 theme is a very timely one, because research shows that 95 per cent of the Earth’s land will be degraded by the year 2050.
“A whopping 24 billion tons of soil have already been eroded by unsustainable agricultural practices; this land degradation is the leading cause of losses of ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and climate regulation.
“The degradation of ecosystems due to over-exploitation of their resources, has direct negative effects on social welfare in the medium and long terms.
“Restoration of the earth is, therefore, an important action needed to be taken, as long as the ecosystem is not degraded.
“It represents a source of wealth for society, hence, the importance of keeping it in good condition,” she said.
Aderounmu said that one of the main causes of ecosystem degradation was deforestation due to the advance of agriculture frontier and inappropriate forest exploitation.
She said that more lands were deforested for commercial agriculture, livestock rearing and due to over-exploitation of forest for woods and energy.
“Nigeria, known for the highest rate of deforestation in the world, has between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of the landmass in 11 Northern states under desertification in 2015.
“Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased from 31.2 per cent to 3.12 per cent per annum; Nigeria lost 14 per cent of her primary forest between 2002 and 2020.
“Forest has been cleared for logging, timber export, subsistence agriculture and notably the collection of wood for fuel, which remains problematic in Western Africa,” she said.
The environmentalist advised individuals to imbibe the culture of planting trees, adapting a sustainable life and practicing the act of recycling to contribute to restoring the earth.
She said Nigeria could tackle climate change and environmental crisis through mitigation and adaptation strategies that were cost effective, environmentally sustainable, culturally compatible and socially acceptable.
According to her, protection, sustainable use of environmental resources, afforestation, creating awareness and mobilisation of community knowledge, and proper implantation of government policies are essential.
The provost called for improved funding for innovative and environmentally friendly activities and synergy in setting and achieving government policies.
Aderounmu called for incorporation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental protection at all levels from nursery to tertiary institutions.
“There is need for strong collaboration among governments, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations), academia and all relevant bodies for effective environmental protection geared toward restoring the earth.
“Information dissemination on all media platforms in protecting the environment, a pledge by individuals to planting trees, adapting sustainable practices toward a cleaner and healthier planet earth are very important.
“Support for green technologies like green building, reduced production of plastic that generate waste and promotion of innovative thinking that can make a lasting and transformation impact to restore the earth are vital,” the expert said.
She commended the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for collaborating with Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria to tackle climate change through trees planting initiative.
“We appreciate other initiatives like great green wall project, prohibition of inadequate burning of land, construction of new roads with drainage by the government, teaching of modern appropriate fishing techniques, among others.
“All those efforts and initiatives are parts of activities that are geared toward restoring the earth, which should also be commended,” she said. (NAN)
