Muhammad Abubakar
7 July 2009
Bauchi — International cooperation between governments, NGOs and other stakeholders is necessary towards conservation of hundreds of thousands of water birds that migrate annually from other parts of the world to Nigeria, the Project Manager, National Conservation Foundation-Wings over Wetlands-Nguru Wetlands Demonstration Project, Boyi Garba Muhammad, has said.
Speaking to our correspondent in Bauchi at the weekend, the NCF-WOW-HNWDP project manager said species of hundreds of thousands of water birds migrate from Europe to the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands in Yobe state annually which he said required the cooperation of all to conserve as the birds are environmentally friendly. "Hundreds of thousands of species of water birds migrate from European countries sometimes traveling a distance of over 5,000 Km to come to this area which is globally known as one of the best habitat for migratory water birds. There is every need to ensure that the place is conserved as these birds play a vital role in the wetlands ecosystem. Their droppings provide local manua to aquatic plants as well as feeds to fish."
He said the Wings over Wetland WOW project is the largest initiative in the African-Eurasian region aimed at conserving migratory water birds and their habitats explaining that the project was a join effort between UNEP/GEF, Wetlands International, Birdlife International, the UN Office for Project Services UNOPS and other stakeholders.
"The Nigerian Conservation Foundation is the implementation agency for the project in Nigeria and it is working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, line agencies and partners to achieve the desired objectives of the projects which includes reducing the degradation of the wetlands."
He said one of the objectives of the project was also to increase number of researches for academic community's effort around the wetlands that will at the same time enhance conservation actions around the area as well as promoting greater community participation in wetlands resource management.
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