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Lecture On The”Last Nigeria Vulture: The Consequence For Human Health And The Economy” By The Honourable Minister Of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed Ofr, As The Guest Lecturer For The 15th Edition Of S.L Edu Memorial Lecture At Ijewere Hall, Banker’s House, Lagos On 19th January, 2016. Introduction: It gives me great pleasure to be present at the 15th edition of Chief S.L .Edu Memorial lecture. I consider this occasion a privilege to deliver a lecture in memory of a man who saw the importance of the Conservation of our precious Natural Resources as far back as 1980, and established a Conservation Foundation whose vision was to be a “Nigeria Where People Prosper while living in harmony with nature”. This vision drives its mission to preserve the full range of Nigeria’s biodiversity which includes species, ecosystems and genetic biodiversity thus promoting the sustainable use of Natural Resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Background: Ecosystems are essential to human life, providing us with countless and invaluable services and opportunities. Our survival as humans depends on sustainable Ecosystems which provide us with food, water and clean air. Fundamentally, Ecosystems are essential for survival, the basis for sustainable development and creating economic opportunity. 1 In Nigeria, today we can acknowledge the true importance of our Ecosystems - the wetlands, forests, rivers, mangrove swamps and the part they play regarding our sustainable development. We have witnessed firsthand the implication of not fully paying attention to our Ecosystems and putting planet, people and prosperity first. This has resulted in the loss of livelihoods, insecurity, exacerbated poverty, impacted health and changed the landscapes from forests to deserts, from mangroves to wasteland, from green cities to choked communities. It is important to note that every part of our ecosystem is intertwined and interdependent. This is part of the reason we are here today as we deliberate on one small undervalued asset in our environment. , “the Vulture” People may be wondering why Vultures? What’s so important about an ugly, scary, dirty bird? Importance of Vultures to Nature Well…. Perhaps the case of judging a book by its cover! Vultures are often misunderstood because they are seen as scavengers and often associated with death. It often starts from childhood when cartoons depict them as hovering and menacing or parents use them to scare children into good behavior. So, from a young age they are etched in our minds as something to do away with; would not be missed; we would be better off. However, this is very far from the truth. Vultures play a very crucial role in maintaining a healthy environment and the wellbeing of humans. Vultures do not hunt live prey, but act as scavengers, feeding on the carcasses of dead animals. The acid in their stomachs is corrosive, facilitating the digestion of decomposing carcasses infected with diseases 2 such as anthrax, cholera, botelinum toxin and rabies that would be lethal to other scavengers and people. Vultures are important indicators of poached activity as they are attracted to large carcasses such as those of poached elephants and rhinos, hence they are victims of poachers. Given their large range sizes and their dependence on high wildlife density, Vultures indicate ecosystem health. They provide essential ecosystem services to society in both urban and natural areas globally. They are nature’s most effective garbage disposal system often referenced as ‘Nature’s clean up crew’. It is estimated that a single Vulture provides a scavenging benefit worth around US dollars 11, 600 per year (AMCEN, 2016). For instance, Avian scavengers are capable of removing a thousand tons of carcasses per year. In Spain alone, Avian scavengers are capable of removing 9.9 thousand tons of carcasses per year. Vultures have played important roles in several human burial practices around the world. In deserts, or areas with rocky soils or insufficient fuel for cremation, disposal of human remains by Vultures may be the best and cleanest option. Without Vultures to efficiently remove large amounts of decayed meat, both air and ground water would show increased contamination. Hence Vultures are for want of a better word often referred to as our 'sanitation officers'. The link between vultures and human health and their ecological and economic role (e.g. through eco-tourism), conservation of African vultures 3 will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goals 2, 12, and 151 and The Aichi Biodiversity Targets 1,2,3,4,7,12 and 142. Current status of a human asset in Nigeria: Many people enjoy watching the seemingly effortless flight of vultures. They occur all over the world. There are eleven species of Vulture in Africa and seven of these are on the edge of extinction. Four (4) are now on the critically endangered list while another three (3) are endangered. The threat facing Vultures are diverse and challenging. Africa continues to have the highest global rate of primary forest loss (FAO, 2010). Therefore, habitat loss degradation poses some levels of threat to Vultures. About 80% of original forest has been converted to agricultural land in West Africa with an estimated loss of ten (10) ha of forest in the Twentieth Century (Norris et al. 2015). In Nigeria as an example, Nigeria’s percentage forest cover is less than 5% as against the FAO recommended 25% of total area and we continue to lose trees at an alarming rate. In Nigeria there were formerly six (6) species of Vultures known as; Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes manachus), African white-backed (Gyps africanus), White-headed (Trigonoceps occipitalis), Ruppell’s griffoo (Gyps rueppellii) and Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis). Out of these, five (5) species are close to extinction in some parts of the country; the only two thriving species are Hooded and Palm-nut Vultures and they are being threatened by loss of habitat and indiscriminate hunting. Some of the challenges being faced by the Vulture include; 1 http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ 2 4 Populations that have declined at devastating rates of between 70% and 97% (92% or worse in 5 species) over a period of three generations. Vultures that are being hunted and killed as a result of targeted poisoning of carnivores using baited carcasses often in response to predation of livestock and is one of the leading causes of vulture deaths in East and Southern Africa. Elephant or Rhino poachers who deliberately poison vultures, which draw attention to poaching activities, or vultures may ingest poison used to kill the elephants. Vultures often suffer mortality caused by collision with or electrocution by power generation and transmission infrastructure such as power lines and wind turbines. Vultures are also used as traditional medicine. The feathers and head are used for ritualistic purposes and export to countries around the globe Vultures are also delicacy to some communities. They often serve as alternative to chicken in some parts of Nigeria. Population increase: - Nigeria’s population has more than doubled in the last 50years. This has caused land to become stressed with habitat under threat further exacerbating the future of birdlife. Current Efforts in Nigeria I believe this room is full of dedicated, concerned and passionate people in conservation. Therefore, improved Partnerships which cut across public and private sector will be key to putting a stop to making our Vultures history. 5 Partnerships between the Federal Ministry of Environment and the International and National NGOs, notably Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Birdlife International and the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) to ensure that the Vulture Species are conserved and Stakeholders are fully sensitized and engaged in the preservation of these eco-assets has been rewarding. We continue to seek increased collaboration. Joint working with State Governments and supporting the preservation and repopulation of Vultures is important as well as encouraging States and Local Governments to own the conservation agenda by underscoring the economic and health gains is vital to achieving our goal. Private sector investment in Vultures should not be overlooked. Although this seems like an unlikely business proposition, investing in the conservation of this bird and other endangered species will support a better ecosystem and provide new economic opportunities in eco-tourism. Strengthening Policy and Regulatory instruments will also be important in persevering our Vultures. The newly signed National Domesticated Reviewed Endangered Species Act, (CITES3) on the 30th of December 2016 by the President is a clear example of government’s commitment to protecting endangered species. Hooded vulture is listed in schedule II. In addition to this strengthening regulatory frameworks, Nigeria is signatory to a few Conventions. 3 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 6 the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) – Nigeria is an active member of the African –Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA). CMS recognizes the threat and conservation challenges of Africa Eurasian- Migratory Landbirds across the fly-way and has therefore adopted the Africa Eurasian- Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP). The AEMLAP is aimed at improving the conservation status of migratory Landbirds through synergetic action that will benefits migrant Landbirds, local communities, sustainable agriculture, the economic and climate change mitigation and adaptation. In order to strengthen (AEMLAP) under the leadership of my Ministry, Nigeria National Committee on Migratory Landbirds has been established comprising representatives of Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Leventis Ornithological Research Institution, National Parks Service and Nigeria Conservation Foundation. This Committee is a pioneer initiative that puts Nigeria at fore front of Land-bird conservation in Africa. Hence, my Ministry successfully hosted International Regional Workshop in November 2016 to address the issue of land use change and habitat degradation in West Africa to explore the opportunity to use migratory land-birds as an indicator of such change. We are also part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Ramsar Convention of Conservation of Wetlands of International importance and MOU Migratory Raptors (Birds of Prey) and; 7 A Member of United Nations Forum on forests, the highest UN Policy body on Sustainable Forest Management. Most of the programs and policies are being domesticated in the Country since 2007. Call to Action Internationally, there are a number of Call to Action which signify the awakening to the value and plight of the Vulture. The 2016 United Nations Environment Assembly led to the Implementation of a new resolution on wildlife crime and trade. This means that African Governments can now act to prevent the poisoning of vultures. The African Union has also identified several actions that would be taken by governments: Raising awareness of the plight of vultures, their ecological importance and valuable ecosystem services and solutions proposed for African vulture conservation at the highest political levels both nationally and regionally Developing and implementing the Multi-Species Action Plan for African-Eurasian Vultures as mandated by the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Resolution 11.14. Implementing the CMS preventing poisoning guidelines which call for: 8 a. Increased grassroots educational initiatives to develop and disseminate good practice for problem animal control and enforcement. b. Developing and enforcing appropriate legislation to control, ban or restrict the sale, storage, distribution, use and disposal of toxic chemicals used in the indiscriminate killing of wildlife. c. Introducing and enforcing penalties on those found guilty of wildlife poisoning events that reflect the serious nature of the crime and act as sufficient deterrent to prevent the perpetration of such acts in future. d. Training and supporting conservation staff to act swiftly and minimize the damage caused by poisoning. e. Enhancing analytical capacity and increasing sampling, testing, monitoring and reporting efforts of relevant institutions across the region. Encouraging Multi-sectoral, National, Regional and International collaboration to address threats to vultures. This collaboration should target players in agrochemical and livestock sectors regarding poison baits, energy sectors regarding energy generation and transmission and health sectors regarding disease transmission and traditional medicine, and trade in vulture parts. In Conclusion: 9 “I would like to appreciate the existing collaboration between NCF and my Ministry and emphasize our resolve intention to strengthen our collaboration as we forge ahead to pursue the conservation of our Nation Natural Resources with the aim of improving the quality of human life both in the present and the future. i. To raise awareness especially in our schools (catching them young) and improve the status of Vultures. ii. Raise awareness of the potential negative human health impacts from continued decline in African Vultures and iii. The potential huge social and economic costs association with African Vulture decline. Distinguished Guests, our dear Children, Gentlemen of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen. I wish to stress that our role as government is mainly catalytic, our programs in the Ministry constitute the framework for a dynamic, evolving process for co-operation among stakeholders. These programs are catalysts for involvement of entire Societies and point of reference for all agents involved in the process of conservation of nature, its resources and ensuring environmentally sustainable development in the country. On our part, I wish to re-iterate our commitment to conservation issues and my Ministry will not relent her efforts as we call on all Stakeholders to understand that it is truly a collective responsibility. Thank you for listening. References: 10 • Birdlife International Concept for Green Room Event on Healthy Vultures, Healthy People (UNEA 2, May 2016). • Outputs and Outcomes of Green Room Event on Healthy Vultures, Healthy People (UNEA 2, May2016). • Motivational note to the Africa Union for Vulture Conservation • List of Resolutions at UNEA -2 (web.unep.org) 11