German envoy, group call for biodiversity protection

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Abuja, and a youth-centered sustainability non-profit organisation in Lagos, SustyVibes, have called on youths in the country to prevent the extinction of animal and plant species through the protection of biodiversity.

The Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Johannes Lehne, made the call during the Bioverse NG national conference held in Abuja, according to a statement on Saturday.

The conference with the theme, ‘The Indispensable Role of Youth in Nigeria’s Biodiversity,’ urged Nigerian youths, the government, and global stakeholders to discuss the country’s biodiversity challenges.

In his speech at the conference, Lehne stated that Nigeria’s diverse biodiversity had come under significant threat over the past few decades.

He said, “Hundreds of animal species and thousands of plant species are currently at risk of extinction, with wild animals losing their habitat as a result of people cutting down almost all the trees in the forest. Educating the Nigerian youth on the subject can positively impact the country’s biodiversity.”

In her address, the National Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, Mrs Ibironke Olubamise, who echoed Johannes’ concerns, noted that young people must identify gaps and develop nature-based solutions with economic value.

On her part, the founder of SustyVibes, Jennifer Uchendu, described the event as historic as it “provided an opportunity to showcase several months of work on the Bioverse NG project while offering young Nigerians the chance to learn and actively participate in biodiversity protection and climate advocacy”.