The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Environment has announced collaboration with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, to launch a National Vulture Conservation Action Plan.
The collaboration and plan is meant to address the alarming decline in the number of vultures in Nigeria through coordinated policy, research, and community-based action.
Disclosing this, the Director of Forestry, Federal Department of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr Moses Ama, said vultures are crucial scavengers in the ecosystem.
Speaking at the two-day workshop on “Reducing the Demand for Vultures in Traditional Medicine Practices in Nigeria”, in Lagos, the director added that vultures play a vital role in preventing the spread of deadly diseases by disposing of animal carcasses efficiently.
He was represented by the ministry’s Deputy Director in the Department of Forestry, Bosede Olukanni.
He noted that the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed six vulture species in Nigeria, including the Hooded Vulture and White-backed Vulture, as Critically Endangered.
He said; “Nigeria is blessed with a rich array of wildlife species, each contributing to the delicate ecological balance that sustains life. Among these, vultures hold a unique and irreplaceable role as nature’s clean-up agents, preventing the spread of deadly diseases through the efficient disposal of animal carcasses.
“Six of our vulture species are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, including the Hooded Vulture and White-backed Vulture. This disturbing trend not only threatens biodiversity but poses serious public health risks and undermines our international conservation commitments.”
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The Director-General of NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, stressed the need for the ecosystem to be protected, just as he noted that humans are at the top of the pyramid.
He educated that no animal should be treated badly as all of what nature has provided are for human’s benefit at the end of the day.
He added; “There is a need for us to protect the ecosystem from collapsing. If that ecosystem collapses, because we are at the top, our fall will be higher, and it will be more painful. That is why we need to be concerned about what is happening to our species, especially the vultures.”
The NVCAP is a crucial step towards protecting Nigeria’s vultures and maintaining the balance of ecosystems.
The plan focuses on education, awareness campaigns, strengthening legal protections, and fosters collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the long-term conservation of vultures in Nigeria.
With key components including nationwide awareness campaigns to educate and sensitize people about the importance of vultures and the threats they face, the plan is urging multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Meanwhile, tougher penalties and modern tools would be made available to end wildlife crimes, including the illegal vulture trade through the Endangered Species Protection and Conservation Bill 2024.
The plan is further calling for partnerships with law enforcement agencies, NGOs, traditional institutions, and international bodies to ensure that vultures are conserved in the society.
