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Rainforest Conservancy In Bayelsa State: Need For Action
This initiative is aimed at the establishment of civil society-led indigenous people-owned rainforest conservancies in Bayelsa State and is in line with the principles and spirit of the Ramser Convention on Wetlands; Convention on Biodiversity (CB) and the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC). It is expected that the indigenous landowners, civil society organisations and NGOs will comanage the conservancies with government and donor agencies.
Climate change and global warming are the greatest problems of the world today. Over the last few years, and in different fora across the globe, world leaders; environmentalists; policy makers and other stakeholders have met to discuss possible solutions to the various environmental problems arising from climate change.
The environment has been decaying so fast so much that it may no longer fully support any form of life in the next few decades if humanity do not come together and fight this degradation. In this regard, humans are the most affected. There are a lot of vehicular emissions and gas flaring in Bayelsa State. There is deforestation and destruction of biodiversity. More carbon dioxide is replacing oxygen in the atmosphere. These problems have serious adverse effect on the environment and sustainability of life on the planet earth. So far no concrete action is being undertaken by the various governments in Nigeria and something urgent needs to be done.
Conservation of biodiversity and pollution of the environment. Oil extraction started in Bayelsa State some Background
Oil extraction industry and urbanisation are in plain contradiction with the 50 years ago with the discovery of Oloibiri oilfield. Today, however, Bayelsa State is one of the leading producers of oil and gas’ among the oil mineral producing states in the country. Since 1996 when Bayelsa State was created with capital at Yenagoa, there has been accelerated deforestation and loss of biodiversity in the capital city area. The city is being developed physically without any Environmental Impact Assessment being carried out to determine the extent of environmental damage being done to the environment and the people who inhabit the capital.
To check this air pollution and loss of biodiversity problem, Development Pathfinder, an NGO, is of the opinion that a small Rainforest Conservancy Project be initiated to convince the indigenous landholding families to put their land into best practices of sustainable forest management, sustainable eco-farming and sustainable eco-tourism.
The initiative is timely so as to mitigate the forthcoming destruction of biodiversity that will arise from the Integrated Oil and Gas Project and the Gas Power Station both at Gbarain near Yenagoa.
Development Pathfinder will network with all levels of government; all oil exploration and exploiting companies and donor agencies to support this initiative since it is a global property meant to maintain the planet earth.
Definition
A conservancy may be defined as a specified piece of land or territory which natural resources must be managed under best practices by the indigenous landholding families, thus making it a civil society led approach. None, one or more villages communities may be located within a conservancy. The object of conservancy is sustainable forest management, using various tools such as forest landscape zonation; reduced impact logging; forest stewardship or certification, environmental governance, sustainable agriculture, livestock, fishing, fresh water resources management; wildlife culture and wetland management. Obviously, this will bring about tourism based community development, through ecotourism and more jobs will be created and poverty will be greatly reduced in the conservancies.
Experiences in other countries
A number of countries all over the world are into conservation. Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990. its land mass is 823,700sq.km with a population of about 2 million. It has four biomes: desert, savanna, woodland, and wetland. Its economy depends greatly on natural resources, minerals, agriculture, fisheries, wild life tourism. In 1996, four conservancies were in existence. By 2002, 35 conservancies have emerged. This brings some 15,300.000 hectares of land under best practices in natural resources management.
In South Africa, there are both natural and urban based conservancies. In Australia indigenous people have title to land and lease some to the government for national park and co-managed with the indigenous people. Thus in Australia, the government and indigenous people are working together to advance the environment sustainably.
In countries where oil is extracted, in South America (Costa Rica, Gyuatemala, mexico, Peru etc) indigenous reserves are operated by the natives in partnership with their governments, the oil companies and donor agencies.
Since 1990s, Cross River State communities have introduced sustainable forest management techniques. Ever since, they are not only being supported by donor agencies but also gaining a lot through eco-tourism. One of the best success stories is the Ekuri initiative in Akamkpa LGA of the state.
Objectives
-Reduction of carbon emissions to reduce climate change
– Introduction of Environmental Governance
– Introduction of Local Community Agenda 21
– Sustainable forest management
– Culture and indigenous people
-rural livelihood and poverty eradication
– Eco-tourism based community development
– Wetland management
– Marine conservancy and zoning
– Seed farm centre
-Wildlife farming
– Forest landscaping and zoning
– Sustainable agriculture and fishes
– Maintain meteorological station
-Any other activity to restore the environment in line with global demands.
Pilot Projects
There could be as many conservancies as possible particularly at industrial stations and oilfields as well as in other areas where families are willing to participate. Examples include:
i. Brass Island
ii. Gbarain Gas Plant area
iii. Egunema (100ha), Epebu
iv. Oguta (100ha), Epebu
v. Obimonoti (100ha) Otuabula II
vi. Agili Otuabagi, Ogbia
Funding Mechanism
This project expects partnership and funding from various sources-multilateral, bilateral, international NGOs; National, State and Local Authority and Private organisations. The funding of rain forest conservancy establishment is highly supported by the Multilateral Environment Agreement (MEAs) which is relevant for the state.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF)
The GEF was set up by the UN system to fund projects as part of the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto protocol. It allows development providers to improve projects such as this to reduce green house gases to achieve sustainable development. Nigeria is a member of GEF and there is a Bureau in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja which is supporting projects in some states in the country.
Above all, the state government should as a matter of urgency establish an independent rainforest conservancy trust fund which will not only promote project documentation and transaction cost, but also kick start small projects before soliciting for help.
Conclusion
The ability of a people or community to follow sustainable development path is determined to a large extent the capacity of its people and institutions. This statement is taken from chapter 37. Agenda 21, the blue print for sustainable futures produced by the Earth summit in 1992 at Rio De Janeiro. Brazil. But more than a decade and 3 half after, the international community continues to grapple with the theory and practice of capacity building in sustainable development and how best it can be anested.
A conservancy approach to natural resource management when indigenous people control their resources to meet global properties of biodiversity of climate change is in accordance with Agenda 21, the blue print of sustainable futures. It is also the best approach to governance for environmental sustainability in line with MDGs. Bayelsa State and indeed other states in Nigeria should therefore embrace the idea of developing conservancies so that our environment and its natural resources may be reasonably conserved.
Sam Egunema
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.
Popular Nigerian comedienne, Tomama has revealed how she waited for Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid outside the bathroom.
She shared this while recounting her encounter with the singer at a recent event with heavy security.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Tomama explained that she waited by the bathroom in an attempt to have a one-on-one conversation with Wizkid.
She stated that she positioned herself near the restroom, hoping Wizkid would eventually use it, giving her the perfect opportunity to speak with him.
“Wizkid, I saw you, and I waited for you to pee, but you didn’t even stand up from where you were sitting. You just stayed there. All your crew members standing around got up to go pee. I was standing by the bathroom, waiting for you to come pee so that you would notice me,” she said.
Content creator and actor, Mr Macaroni has opened up about his financial struggles, saying he was both a victim of a scam and a failed investment in 2021.
He revealed that after losing all his savings, he resorted to borrowing to settle pending commitments and slipped into N500 million in debt.
He admitted that he is financially reckless and generous, impacting his financial stability negatively.
In lengthy post shared via his X handle yesterday, Mr Macaroni wrote, “Sometime around 2020/2022, I was a victim of a scam and simultaneously a failed investment that cost me all I had saved at the time. It shook me deeply but I told no one about it. If you know me well enough, you would know I do not like to share my problems. I could be going through the worst and at the same time helping others solve their own problems but I just would never share mine.”
“After I lost all the money I had then, Trouble started when I had to borrow money from different sources to settle all pending commitments and also fulfill certain responsibilities I have always believed were mine to fulfill. I make money in millions so I never thought borrowing money to pay back with interest could ever be a problem. But I got too comfortable and it took me a long time to realise that I was using the money I was earning to pay back interests. Also, my financial recklessness did not help. Please don’t borrow money! But if you must, please be responsible.”
The actor stated that 2024 marked a pivotal moment in his acting career but it was also the most challenging year for him as he faced over half a billion naira in debt.
Mr Macaroni revealed that his frustration grew worse after he was betrayed by someone he considered “a friend and sister.”
He added that with the support of family and friends who stood by him during his trying times, he now “feels better than I have felt in the last three years!”
The comedian stated that he decided to finally share his story to encourage others who are going through challenges.