Group Tasks Citizens, Govts On Ecosystem Restoration

Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), a non- governmental organisation, has called on government at all levels and the citizenry to take practical steps toward preventing further loss of biodiversity and restore the ecosystems.
This was contained in a press release made available to newsmen on the sideline of the just conclude World Environment Day celebration in Port Harcourt.
According to the release, individuals, communities and the multinational companies must also put to an end practices that compromise conservation and restoration of biodiversity.
The centre listed some of the practices to include; artesenal refining of crude oil, over exploitation of mangroves for firewood, fishing with dynamite and gas firing.
“We demand that the government of Nigeria should as a matter of urgency embark on a robust sensitisation on sustainable actions restoring degraded mangroves forest”.
The group also called for an urgent need for a national policy on tree planting in every homes, schools, colleges, and public parks.
“Most importantly, the government should strengthen existing legislations including the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act, and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act.
“The regulatory bodies implementing the laws should also be empowered to undertake their responsibilities”, it said.
The release which was signed by Dr Kabari Simeon Sam, Head, Environmental and Conservation Programme, Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) described the theme of the celebration which was “Ecosystem Restoration” as apt, adding that it presents an opportunity for renewed call for sustainable restoration of the myriad of degraded environments in the Niger Delta.
“Ecosystem restoration means assisting in the recovering of ecosptems that have been degraded or destroyed as well as conserving ecosystems that are still intact if it is a management strategy that restores ecological processes to maintain ecosystem composition structures and function it said.
The group also urged the Nigerian government and others to reflect on the significance of a fertile healthy and functional ecosystem as a panacea for sustainable development adding: “This reflection will be meaningful of the government and other stakeholders recall pre-oil era and how currently degraded ecosystems in the Niger Delta had hitherto flourished and supported bumper agriculture, fisheries medical goods, cultural and social functions of the people” it said.

By: John Bibor