An environmental protection group, Bridge-That-Gap Initiative, is seeking a change in Nigerians’ perception of environmental and biodiversity conservation.
The group’s Founder, Ms Gloria Bulus, said on Thursday  that many Nigerians had yet to show interest in the conservation due to poor understanding of consequences of plant and animal extinction.
Bulus spoke with newsmen in Lagos.
She said that much awareness creation would be needed for the change of perception.
She said the group would sensitise Nigerians to the importance of environment and biodiversity conservation as part of its activities to mark the 2019 Earth Day.
“We want to create awareness on the increasing rate of extinction of some plants and animals in the country, so that people will know the consequences.
“We also want to play our role in influencing how biodiversity preservation and animal/plant protection is perceived in the country.
“We want Nigerians to understand how climate change affects these species going into extinction; we want Nigerians to understand the essence of animal and plants protection.
“We are also looking for avenues where we can get every Nigerian involved in biodiversity conservation and environmental protection,” she said.
Bulus said that it was  important for more Nigerians to show interest in environmental protection.
“More Nigerians need to get involved. We will like to look at how we can influence environmental policies in Kaduna and the nation as a whole,” she told NAN.
Bulus said it was necessary for Nigerians to imbibe the culture of environmental and biodiversity protection in the nations’ benefit.
“We want to change the perception of people and organisation on anti-biodiversity conservation practices because we believe that human activities have led to some of these extinctions.
“Our intention is to build a culture for biodiversity conservation among Nigerians by establishing conservation clubs in and around Kaduna before we move to other parts of the country.