World Wildlife Day: PADECS urges review of environmental Law to protect Yankari game reserve

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

In an effort to ensure that Yankari game reserve, situated in Alkaleri Local government area of Bauchi state is adequately protected, a Non-governmental organization known as Pastoralists Development and Conservation Society (PADECS) has called for the review of the law establishing the reserve as well as that of the environment in the state.

The Bauchi state Coordinator of the Organization, Mr Shuaibu Aliyu Kobi who made the call in a press release to mark this year’s World Wildlife Day on Sunday, noted that the existence of human beings become more alluring, when the environment is well protected.

Mr Kobi who called on stakeholders to make the environment habitable for Wildlife, explained that the environment can be habitable if natural resources and wildlife are given the treatments they deserve.

PADECS observed that people globally benefit hugely from wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet their daily needs such as food, fuel, drugs, shelter, and clothing, among others.

He said, history had it that in December of 2013 at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), March 3 was declared United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD).

The Coordinator pointed out that the World Wildlife Day is significant been the day that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973.

He added that the UNGA resolution designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of the day for wildlife on the UN calendar.

PADECS which further noted that the theme for this year’s World Wildlife Day is ”Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife, explained that the theme aimed at exploring digital creativities, harnessing such technologies and services for wildlife conservation, maintaining legal wildlife trade as well as human-wildlife coexistence.

Mr Kobi who stated that PADECS has been for years, contributing in the areas of tree planting primarily to revive cut down trees, orienting the public especially village dwellers on the pertinence of wildlife and introduction of modern techniques for the fight against climate change.

He said that the World Wildlife Day 2024 is an avenue for idealistic interaction and empowering idle youth on conversation opportunities through digital world.

According him, in conserving wildlife, PADECS has partnered with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in establishing teams of volunteers derived from surrounding villages of Yankari Game Reserve that assiduously work in complimenting tasks of game guards.

Mr. Kobi listed human activities that endangered the lives of Yankari wildlife to include, farming that cross the red lines, hunting wildlife for consumption or business, destroying wildlife habitat through deforestation, setting dried grasses on fire, allowing domestic animals to graze inside the reserve, illegal mining and plucking of fruits meant for wildlife.

He said Women volunteers were trained on biodiversity conservation, efficient energy utilization and forestry restoration with the aims of complimenting the effort of men in the protection of Yankari Game reserves wildlife resources.

“Interactive session was conducted for the women on village saving loan (VSL) while the practical session was on nursing tree seedlings in order to make their homes more habitable. After the interactive session, tree seedlings were given to all participating women free of charge”, Mr. Kobi disclosed.

PADECS called on the government to initiate sustainable livelihood activities for women and youths in the support zone of Yankari game reserve.

It also urged the government to support WCS and other NGOs in the state to protect the wildlife resources in Yankari game reserve.