By Ijeoma Olorunfemi
UNESCO has urged state governments in the Nigeria’s biosphere reserves to sustain biodiversity conservation through the promotion of green and sustainable livelihoods.
Dr Jean-Paul Abiaga, UNESCO Representative to Nigeria, said this on Tuesday at the Biodiversity Business Training exercise held in communities around the Omo Biosphere Reserve, Ogun.
Abiaga, also the Head of the UNESCO Abuja Office, described conservation as central to the organisation’s mandate.
He said it was targeted at preserving biodiversity to ensure that communities living within biosphere reserves develop environmentally, friendly and sustainable income generating activities.
“What the communities expect from UNESCO is to scale up what has already started in this community and in other reserves.
“We want to show that it is possible to preserve biodiversity while sustaining livelihoods.
“We want this example scaled at the state levels and across Nigeria,” he said.
Abiaga identified aspect of human livelihoods as the most challenging part of biodiversity management.
According to him, UNESCO is implementing the biodiversity business project to help communities live sustainably without negatively impacting the environment, while becoming active agents of preservation.
He said the project aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which focused on clean water and sanitation as well as addressing issues around climate change.
“We are currently training 10 different communities in Ogun State, especially those living near the Omo Biosphere Reserve in piggery and sustainable fish farming.
“With this, they will be able to earn green income while reducing activities such as illegal wood cutting, destructive fishing practices, poaching and other actions that degrade the environment.
“This directly relates to several SDGs, including SDG 6 on water resources. Overall, this is a comprehensive programme that addresses multiple SDGs that the international community has committed to achieve by 2030.” (NAN)http://www.nannews.ng