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Majekodunmi’s group urges forest protection to halt climate change

By Ijeoma Thomas-Odia
02 April 2018   |   2:14 am
Renowned environmental activist and founder Lufasi Nature Park, Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi has called for action on conserving and restoring forests to address climate change.

LUFASI President, Desmond Majekodunmi(Second right), and other participants pulling a sandbag during the campaign at the weekend

Renowned environmental activist and founder Lufasi Nature Park, Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi has called for action on conserving and restoring forests to address climate change.
 
Deforestation and forest degradation have such a significant impact on climate change, reducing forest loss can have multiple benefits for ecosystems and people.

These include cutting greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering carbon, providing other ecosystems services, and maintaining intact, functioning forests that have the best chance of withstanding climate change.

Speaking at an event to mark the International day of the forest in Lagos, he said human activities have negative consequences on the natural resources, with the country’s forest cover reducing to about six per cent.

According to him, this year’s theme: forest and sustainable cities, shows they are aware of it’s importance as it saves lives and is one of the most important web of life that nature has given to us.

On the average, Nigeria is said to be losing about 3.5 per cent of its forest annually, which is between 350,000 and 400,000 hectares of forestland. Also, a research conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) revealed that between 2000 and 2005, the country lost 55.7 per cent of its primary forests, and the rate of forest change increased by 31.2 per cent to 3.12 per cent, per annum.

Majekodunmi who noted that that man’s activities against nature has slowed down a bit, advocated for fundamental attitudinal and lifestyle changes.He said: “It will leave a realisation in our lives that we cannot perpetrate unlimited abuse, driven by unlimited consumption, when you have a limited entity; population is exploding and what the earth has to offer us is limited, we are over using and abusing those aspect that supplies sustainable life support. The forest gives us rain, purifies our waters, cools down the air, clean up pollution”

He said: “Forests help climate change a whole lot and this year with the focus on cities, it is essential to have forest parks just like ours at every nook and cranny in a city like Lagos. We need all the green spaces, let’s be a part of the solution. We could have claimed ignorance in the past but with the climate change and breaking down of bio diversities, we know its real.

“We have seen them turn some dumpsites into green spaces, but then with bringing down of trees, which is our life support systems in the name of development, is not really development. We must realise that human beings are part of nature and everything that we do must be done in harmony with nature; if we don’t care for nature, it will destroy us. “With Lufasi and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation promoting afforestation, I believe that the Ministries of Environment needs all the support and funding to encourage them to protect the forest areas.”

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