Innocent Onoh
As Nigeria joins the international community to commemorate World Wildlife Day, the Nigerian government, the private sector, and conservation organizations have been urged to increase their support for wildlife conservation initiatives to preserve the nation’s iconic species.
The wildlife conservation organization Wild Africa made the call in a statement on this year’s World Wildlife Day, with the theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.”
Celebrated on March 3 every year, World Wildlife Day reminds people of the richness of plant and animal life, as well as the challenges that threaten them.
This year’s theme emphasizes the essential role of innovative funding in protecting biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for both nature and humanity.
Wild Africa, in the statement, lamented the 2024 Living Planet Report, which posited that Africa’s wildlife populations have declined by an alarming 76% over the past 50 years, with the situation considered dire in Nigeria, where several species, such as lions, elephants, chimpanzees, and gorillas, are on the brink of extinction.
While calling for increased support from the government, public sector, and conservation organizations towards sustainable protection of wildlife in the country, it believed that with the right investment, the sector is expected to create 2.6 million new jobs over the next decade and bring in nearly ₦12.3 trillion ($8.2bn) by 2032.
The statement reads in part,
“According to the 2024 Living Planet Report, Africa’s wildlife populations have declined by an alarming 76% over the past 50 years. In Nigeria, the situation is dire, with several species, such as lions, elephants, chimpanzees, and gorillas, on the brink of extinction.
“For example, the country’s elephant population has declined by 99 percent, with only about 300-400 elephants surviving in the wild.
“Without immediate investment in conservation, species loss will accelerate, leading to devastating consequences—not only for nature but also for economies that rely on natural resources.
“The stakes are high. In Africa, 80% of tourists visit the continent for its wildlife, fueling the ecotourism industry that brings in $12.4 billion a year and sustains local economies and communities. In countries like Kenya, wildlife tourism accounts for 10.4% of Kenya’s GDP, employing millions of people and generating $2.7 billion for the country in 2023.
“In Nigeria, travel and tourism’s contribution to the GDP is forecasted to grow at an average rate of 5.4% between 2022-2032, highlighting its significant potential to drive economic growth. The sector is expected to create 2.6 million new jobs over the next decade and bring in nearly ₦12.3 trillion ($8.2bn) by 2032.
Continued sustainable management of natural resources and preserving wildlife and wild spaces are essential to fostering a profitable wildlife economy that can grow further,” says the statement.
The statement quotes Dr. Mark Ofua, Wild Africa’s West Africa spokesperson as submitting that,
“Conservation is a symphony. All hands must be on deck. Businesses must see conservation efforts as their corporate social responsibility, working with governments, conservation organizations, and individuals. Together, we can harmonize our efforts, mobilize resources, and create a resilient future for our planet’s precious biodiversity.”
On some of the actions the organization is taken to promote wildlife conservation in Africa, the statement says that “Wild Africa is using a combination of radio, TV, billboards, newspaper publications, and public service announcements (PSAs) featuring influential Nigerian ambassadors such as 2Baba, Nela Duke Ekpenyong, and other influential Nigerians to highlight Nigeria’s wildlife tourism potential and the need to protect Nigeria’s wildlife and wild spaces”.
On his part, Peter Knights OBE, CEO of Wild Africa, emphasizes, “Without nature, we will not survive. Whether it’s countering our carbon footprints, safeguarding our watersheds, maintaining jobs in tourism, or keeping fishing to sustainable levels. Investing in conservation in Africa isn’t charity—it’s a necessity. A world without wildlife is not just an ecological disaster – it’s an economic one, too.”
Wild Africa urged the Nigerian public to participate in sustainable ecotourism by visiting the national parks and supporting local conservation organizations through donations or volunteering.