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Honduran activist, Berta Cáceres, murdered

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Berta Cáceres, 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize winner, was on Wednesday night murdered in her home. Her assassins reportedly waited until well after dark before breaking into the house where she slept.

Berta Caceres
Berta Caceres

During her lifetime, the late Ms Cáceres rallied her fellow indigenous Lenca people of Honduras and waged a grassroots campaign that successfully pressured the world’s largest dam builder to pull out of the Agua Zarca Dam.

Since the 2009 coup, Honduras has witnessed an explosive growth in environmentally destructive megaprojects that would displace indigenous communities. Almost 30 percent of the country’s land was earmarked for mining concessions, creating a demand for cheap energy to power future mining operations. To meet this need, the government approved hundreds of dam projects around the country, privatising rivers, land, and uprooting communities.

Among them was the Agua Zarca Dam, a joint project of Honduran company Desarrollos Energéticos SA (DESA) and Chinese state-owned Sinohydro, the world’s largest dam developer. Agua Zarca, slated for construction on the sacred Gualcarque River, was pushed through without consulting the indigenous Lenca people – a violation of international treaties governing indigenous peoples’ rights. The dam would cut off the supply of water, food and medicine for hundreds of Lenca people and violate their right to sustainably manage and live off their land.

It is not yet known who is behind Cáceres assassination but, as an indigenous, environmental and human rights activist, she knew well the risks she faced, according to observers. In 1993, she co-founded the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organisations of Honduras (COPINH) to address the growing threats posed to indigenous communities by illegal logging, fight for their territorial rights and improve their livelihoods.

The work of COPINH is still sorely needed. Honduras has been called, “the deadliest place for environmental activists”, and is a country where corruption is a major problem. Twelve activists were killed last year alone for their efforts to defend land and the environment, according to a report by UK-based NGO Global Witness – more per capita than any other country (a record Honduras has held for the last five years). “This is a sad day for Honduras and the world,” said Jagoda Munic, chair of Friends of the Earth International, adding:

“Given the situation in Honduras, in which indigenous, environmental and human rights activists like Berta Cáceres are targeted by government and corporate security forces alike, international pressure is needed to bring the murderers to justice and protect those brave enough to speak out on behalf of their fellow citizens and the environment. Our condolences to her family, friends and all who worked alongside her.”

Munic adds: “At Friends of the Earth International, we have for a long time admired the work of Cáceres and COPINH, and at times worked together. In 2013, Friends of the Earth supporters joined voices around the world in support of Cáceres when she and other activists were facing prison sentences.”

On threats to her own life:

“The army has an assassination list of 18 wanted human rights fighters with my name at the top. I want to live, there are many things I still want to do in this world but I have never once considered giving-up fighting for our territory, for a life with dignity, because our fight is legitimate. I take lots of care but in the end, in this country where there is total impunity I am vulnerable… when they want to kill me, they will do it.”
— Berta Cáceres, 24 December 2013

Last year, Cáceres was interviewed about the death of a fellow activist, Tomás Garcia – who was shot at close range during a peaceful protest at the site of the same Agua Zarca hydro-electric dam. This is how she ended that interview:

“We truly believe in solidarity and in hope despite how hurtful this process is. And we can only think of how our brother, Tomas, is no longer with us, of how much he is missed, not just by his family – his sons and daughters, but by COPINH as well. And despite everything that’s happened, we still have hope in our people’s struggle.”
— Berta Cáceres, 9 December 2015

Mohammed: How Nigeria will restore Niger Delta livelihood, lifestyle

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Nigeria will begin the long-awaited clean-up of the polluted Niger Delta region by month’s end, Environment Minister, Amina Mohammed, has said.

The Niger Delta region in Nigeria is believed to be one of the most polluted spots in the entire universe
The Niger Delta region in Nigeria is believed to be one of the most polluted spots in the entire universe

She made the disclosure recently in Abuja in a presentation at the FOSTER Technical workshop on “Niger Delta way forward: From stabilisation to sustainable development.”

Stressing that the clean-up “is something that has been on the table for many years,” Ms. Mohammed noted that the authorities would from this week seek consultations in that regard.

She said: “The President made this commitment in his campaign; he reiterated it as he visited Nairobi.  The nNew NEP report is amazing. It didn’t have so much buy-in at first but I can tell you that today it is like the gospel in the Niger Delta. It is one document that everyone revolves around and it is waiting for implementation. We have to be responsive to the current situation we have.

“We are working on beginning the clean-up by the end of March, we will seek consultation from Government in those areas to Government in the Niger Delta from this week going on. It is complex. It is incredibly a protracted situation so therefore things that we think should be common sense are not, things don’t add up. Overtime, people have been neglected, resources have been misused and not appropriated properly.”

According to her, a recent visit in the company of the Minister of State to Forcados at an oil spill site “illustrated how difficult it was even to communicate with representation. How difficult it was that when you not in the eye of the TV screen a lot that could happen in terms of ambition doesn’t happen because it doesn’t matter, it is just another spill. We have huge challenges and we are not to underestimate them.”

She adds: “For me, perhaps the greatest concern in environment is that it probably is quite easy to get us around cleaning banded around cleaning up, but how do we stay clean the day after, for a year, for two years, and 20 years after? That is what is complex and we must take into account and communicate in terms of the expectations that we need to meet the people of the Niger Delta. It would of course start with Ogoniland that is put on everyone’s radar, nationally and internationally. We have to recognise that the issue of oil pollution is a Niger Delta challenge.

“We will have to look inwards. The oil companies clearly have a responsibility towards that to ensure that what they are company to clean remains clean. We are also looking at the third party challenges that we have to the oil spills, we need to see how to better own our environment, to have a stake in it. That means, government has to provide the environment for that stability, means what is the stake of young people; of those in the Niger Delta in terms of their future, livelihood matters? People see that there is a horizon there that they can move towards. It is important that what we say in terms of the diversification of the economy, it is a big thrust that this economy has, what is the role of the Niger Delta, discussions that you have that look at life beyond oil and that has to be a national discussion.

“More often we hear people speak of smart agriculture, industrialisation, what does that mean in the Niger Delta and how do we accommodate that in the sense of discussion? Encouraging ownership and accountability again is going to be critical. We have said, corruption and the rule of law is important.  How do we do this at the level of state governments and local governments and the communities themselves, what are the checks balances that we put in? How do we better utilise our people in civil societies so that we can strengthen the independent feedback that we need to make sure that we are doing the right thing? It is important that we define roles and responsibilities to ensure we don’t have distractions that are there in who is playing what parts and this applies to all major stakeholders in the environment, our ministries but also the state and local governments, business and partners.

“It maybe this time that we have to try to right the wrongs that we could begin to think constructively on how to reduce the trust deficit, that means addressing what people don’t trust about one another. How do we bridge those gaps? Maybe we are not the right people to it in government, maybe there are other parties that can do in better. What is the mix that we have for that?

“The Niger-Delta like the rest of Nigeria is full of assets and the biggest assets that we have neglected are its people and that requires a lot of attention and that is not easy. It is people that are here for the long term. There are no quick fixes to what we have messed up over the years. This is just a solid step to make that foundation to recovery real.”

“Climate change is real, we know the many issues that affect us, from the drying up of Lake Chad to the flooding we have to coastal erosion and much of what we see in the country. So taking climate actions, what are the specific actions we can begin to take? We have a lot of support to create a robust Climate Change Department in the Ministry and last but not the least, it is about a policy thrust that talks about building our green economy and creating jobs, taking climate action, protecting our environment and environmental governance.

“The Ministry has a huge remit for regulation for affecting some of the laws that we have, it is the least strengthened that and it is not seen in tangible ways. So when our two agencies NOSDRA and NESREA who have that responsibility are often accused of not being as strong as they should be, it is because we don’t make investment in what we don’t have. We will not remake things; we will build on strengthening things like our Green Wall.

“When I came into office, we had what we call an INDC and that was our intended national contributions to how we would reduce emissions for climate change. That would be revised after the Climate Change Agreement to actually effectively have a plan that involves sectors and I think that is another strength in this environment that you see Ministers all the time working together because of integration, coordination, coherence has got to be the theme of the day. Here the INDC ends up being an NDC in the next few months.”

Role of biotechnology in Nigeria’s economic diversification

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“Agriculture must cease from being treated as development programme; agriculture must be treated as business. Our goal will be to pursue government supported private sector agriculture value chain to make agriculture more productive, efficient and competitive.” – President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo credit: informationng.com
President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo credit: informationng.com

Since his assumption of office in May last year, Muhammadu Buhari, president of Nigeria, has repeated at many fora that the nation’s economy must be diversified in order to meet up the job quests, wealth creation and other developmental needs.

The drastic fall of oil prices in the international market has directed the thinking of the Buhari administration to diversify the economy to other sources of revenue generation, specifically agriculture. Oil is Nigeria’s major source of revenue.

Most recently, speaking at a meeting of members of the Council of Saudi Arabian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, ‎the president: “With the down turn in the global prices of oil, we now have to prospect our solid minerals. We have to return to agriculture.”

The important aspect of these repeated pronouncements ‎is Mr President’s seeming seriousness about it. He wants to create wealth for the citizenry; employment opportunities for the youth; economic boost for the nation and opportunities for foreign investment.

“We have to return to agriculture,” Buhari has repeatedly said. But what form of agriculture could effectively replace oil in revenue generation? What form of agriculture could provide food security for the over-growing population? What form of agriculture could provide job opportunities for the youth and create wealth for the people?

The following questions must be taken into consideration if agriculture is truly sort out as the alternative driver of the nation’s economy: Should the country continue to rely on traditional methods of farming? Are traditional methods still reliable means for mass food production? Should budgetary allocation ‎to Agriculture continue to fall short of the 10 percent of national annual countries as recommended by the Maputo Declaration to which Nigeria is signatory?

Among many other things that would propel Nigeria’s agricultural potential to adequately take place of oil, are modern farming methods (biotechnology) and an upped budgetary allocation.

Biosciences could boost food security in Nigeria. ‎As such, Nigeria’s diversified growth requires increased investments that would harness biosciences as a tool for sustainable development in agriculture.

Not only should the provision of soft loans and fertilisers to farmers be the focus of government, there must be an assurance for innovative research and capacity building in agriculture in order for farmers and other stakeholders to respond to food security challenges.

And, to act in the way that portrays the administration’s understanding of the potentials of agriculture as a diversifying option that is capable of transforming Nigeria’s economy, the budgetary allocation of N76,753,672,273 to agriculture in the 2016 Appropriation Bill, must be revisited. That is less than the 10 percent, which Nigeria agreed to implement along with other African countries in Maputo.

It is however commendable that the country has taken certain steps towards joining other nations in the adoption of biotechnology in agriculture. ‎To start with, the Biotechnology Policy was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2001. That led to the establishment of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA).

Because of some health concerns expressed in certain quarters if the technology is introduced, NABDA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders, facilitated the passage of the National Biosafety bill into law. The law established the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), a full-fledged agency that provides regulatory frameworks for sustainability.

In the same vein, ‎towards addressing the concerns and misconceptions on the benefit of agricultural biotechnology and its potentials to drive development, NABDA, NBMA, the Programme for Biosafety System (PBS), Washington DC and the Nigerian chapter of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa‎, are collaborating to organise a workshop to hold in March in Abuja.

With a theme: “The Role of Agricultural Biotechnology in the Achievement of Food Security and Economic Diversification in Nigeria,”‎ the Assistant Director with NABDA and Country Coordinator of OFAB‎, Dr. Rose Gidado, said: “The workshop aims to ‎build confidence in the Nigerian public, biotechnology practitioners, crop developers and the industry, paving the way for the use of science and technology in agriculture, which in turn will hasten the speed of the ‘wind if change’ of the Buhari Administration.”

Stating the objectives of the workshop, Director General of NBMA, Chief Rufus Ebegba,‎ said: “It is aimed at bringing biotechnology to the front burner in the diversification of Nigeria’s economy under a sound biosafety regulatory framework.

“It is also to accurately educate participants on issues of biotechnology and biosafety so that decisions by policy makers are effectively understood and communicated to the general public and also to sensitize the general public on genetic modification, biosafety and best practices in GM research and development.”

Contributing, Dr. Gidado added that the workshop would “encourage the research communities and developers of products of agricultural biotechnology to intensify their activities in line with the ‘change agenda’ of the federal government as it relates to Agriculture.”

The workshop is in two opening and technical sessions. The opening session would be attended by ‎ministers of line ministries directly involved in biotechnology/biosafety issues – ministries of Trade and Investment, Environment, Agric and Rural Development and Science and Technology.

At the opening, Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, Director General of NABDA, will deliver a paper titled: “Introduction to Biotechnology and Its Place in Agricultural Development” while the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, will deliver a keynote address titled: “The Role of Science and Technology in Economic Diversification.”

The technical sessions for days one and two are deliberately made to be rich with various presentations from notable agric scientists.

By Abdallah el-Kurebe 

FUT Minna produces second batch of WASCAL graduates

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The Federal University of Technology in Minna (FUT Minna), Niger State has produced its second set (or ‘Batch B’) of graduates under a special scheme being bankrolled by the German government.

The Batch B M. Tech graduates in CCALU under the WASCALprogramme at FUT Minna
Eight out of the total 10 members of the “Batch B” M. Tech graduates in CCALU under the WASCAL programme at FUT Minna during the graduation ceremony on February 27, 2016

Tagged the Master Programme on Climate Change and Adapted Landuse (CC&ALU), it is being implemented under the West African Centre for Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) initiative involving Nigeria and several other countries in the sub-region.

The 2013 batch of 10 WASCAL graduates joined 2,741 others at the 25th Convocation Ceremony of their host university in the Niger State capital recently. The graduates, who completed their programme in October 2015, returned to formally participate in this year’s graduation ceremony as they joined 464 other Masters degree holders. But, in their case, they were awarded Master of Technology (M. Tech) in Climate Change and Adapted Land Use.

The degree was awarded after 15 months of intense course work and nine months of research, which focused on the “food basket” of Nigeria, which are the North Central states of Niger, Kogi, Nassarawa and Kwara.

The Director of the Centre in FUT Minna, Dr Appollonia Okhimamhe, one of the key objectives of WASCAL is to conduct credible research to safeguard the “food basket” of West Africa from the ravages of the impacts of climate change.

According to her, six of these graduates were competitively selected in their various countries and would soon commence their PhD in different WASCAL host universities. She is getting set to welcome the 2016 Batch of students, 10 of whom had been selected competitively after “a very rigourous” selection process that included a “face-to-face” interview at the country level.

The graduates are: Marsanne Gloriose Bignon Allakonon (Benin), Talardia Gbangou (Burkina Faso), Gnenakantanhan Coulibaly (Cote D’Ivoire), Isaac Larbi (Ghana), Assitan Daou (Mali), Soule Moussa (Niger), Femi Oluwatosin Asonibare (Nigeria), Gloria Chiwendu Okafor (Nigeria), Dodzi Kossi Bissadu (Togo) and Séna Koglo Yawovi (Togo).

Their areas of thesis were listed to include:

  • Assessment of vulnerability of agroforestry trees to climate change in Niger State (Allakonon)
  • Analysing climate change projection on water availability for rainfed agriculture in Awan basin, Kwara State (GBangou)
  • Evaluation of root and tuber crops yield under the changing climate conditions in Kwara State (larbi)
  • Assessment of climate change and land use impact on groundwater resources in Kogi State, using GIS techniques
  • Assessment of the impact of climate change and land use/land cover in Kogi State (Daou)
  • Impact of land use and climate change in vegetation dynamics of Doma Forest Reserve in Nasarawa State (Moussa)
  • Site selection for urban forestry development as a mitigation of climate change in Ilorin area, Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria (Asonibare)
  • Household vulnerability and adaptation to water stress induced by climate change on Downstream Kaduna River Basin (Okafor)
  • Remote sensing and GIS-based assessment of land degradation driven by climate land use/change in Nasarawa State (Bissadu)
  • Assessment of crops lands changes using remote sensing and GIS and adaptation strategies to climate extremes in Lapai Local Government Area.

 

Dr Okhimamhe disclosed that the vision of WASCAL on research is that at least a paper is published from the final output of each student’s masters research thesis.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mubau Adewunmi Akanji, expressed the institution’s gratitude to the German Ministry of Education and Research for funding the WASCAL programme, adding that FUT Minna has kept its vision for a robust academic development.

“Our 2015 annual report offers and introspective perpective of an institution committed to promoting academic excellence through autonomous intellectual partnerships,” he disclosed.

Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali, urged the graduating students to see the degrees and grades as work in progress.

His words: “You must see your graduation today not as an end to the journey. Rather, you must see today as the beginning of the beginning. You must rise to the occasion and always aspire to do better. Opportunities and challenges await you in the world ahead.”

Chancellor of FUT Minna, Eze Eberechi N. Dick, the Eze Udo I of Mboko Ngwa Amaise, described the event as unique in the sense that “the graduands will be the first that I will confer with degrees and diplomas as the chancellor of the university.

The Eze, who is also Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, said: “I feel a deep sense of pride to be here with you all on this auspicious occasion where some of you who have been found worthy in character and learning are being bestowed with certificates as a reward for your academic exploits.

“As you may be aware, this university was established to provide the much-needed manpower for the development of the country in the areas of science and technology and the university has remained committed to its mandate.”

Countries under the WASCAL programme include Nigeria, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, The Gambia and Ghana.

Dr Okhimamhe described WASCAL as a regional centre for capacity building in climate change across West Africa. She added that WASCAL is also designed to help tackle challenges of climate change thereby enhancing resilience of human and environmental system to climate change and variability.

Congo may re-open vast rainforest to industrial loggers

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A tropical rainforest more than twice the size of France is at risk of being cut down, following news from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that the government is considering re-opening its forest to new logging companies.

Lars Løvold of Rainforest Foundation Norway
Lars Løvold of Rainforest Foundation Norway

This comes at a time when the governments of Norway, France, Germany, the UK, and the European Union, are assessing whether to support a billion-dollar plan proposed by the DRC government to protect the country’s 1.55 million square kilometres of forests.

A coalition of environmental and anti-corruption organisations is calling on the DRC government to maintain its moratorium on the allocation of new logging licenses, which has been in place since 2002.

Irène Wabiwa Betoko of Greenpeace Africa, said: “The large-scale logging of DRC’s rainforest was and is a disaster. It not only harms the country’s environment, but also fuels corruption and creates social and economic havoc.”

Lars Løvold of Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) said: “At a time when the global community is working together to protect the world’s last rainforests, a vital defense against climate change, the DRC government seems to be undermining the commitment to reducing emissions that it presented in Paris.”

The DRC Environment Minister Robert Bopolo Bogeza recently stated that measures are being undertaken to lift moratorium on the allocation of new logging licenses, while outlining his priorities for 2016, citing the financial benefits this could bring.

Joesph Bobia of Réseau Ressources Naturelles (RRN) said: “The argument that logging can significantly contribute to government revenues is completely unfounded. Around a tenth of the DRC’s rainforest is already being logged. And yet, in 2014 the country obtained a pitiful USD8 million in fiscal revenues from the sector – the equivalent of about 12 cents for every Congolese person,”

Simon Counsell of the Rainforest Foundation UK said: “Expansion of industrial logging in Congo’s rainforests is likely to have serious long-term negative impacts on the millions of people living in and depending on those forests. We urge the government of DRC to instead promote community based forest protection and alternatives to logging that will help the country’s population prosper.”

Reducing Emissions through Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) is an international effort under the UN climate treaties to combat carbon emissions by protecting the world’s forests. DRC’s national strategy for REDD has been under negotiation for six years and will be submitted to international donor governments for approval this year.

“We call upon the DRC government to keep the present logging moratorium in place,” Ms Wabiwa Betoko concluded.

The moratorium on the allocation of new logging titles was issued by Ministerial decree in 2002, in an attempt to regain control of the country’s timber industry, which was riddled with illegal logging and corruption, which came at a significant social and environmental cost.

DRC’s forest accounts for around one tenth of the world’s remaining tropical rainforests. Many species, such as the bonobo and okapi, are only found in these ecosystems. Some 40 million people in the country rely on these forests for their livelihoods, including food and fuel.

Livelihoods, forests at risk if land rights are ignored, says report

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Indigenous Peoples and local communities protect half the world’s land, but formally own just 10 percent, according to a report released today by a global alliance of NGOs.

Mike Taylor, the International Land Coalition (ILC) Director
Mike Taylor, the International Land Coalition (ILC) Director

The Global Call to Action on Indigenous and Community Land Rights, backed by more than 300 organisations all over the world, was on Wednesday launched with the publication of a new report.

Entitled “Common Ground: Securing Land Rights and Safeguarding the Earth,” the report represents a manifesto of solidarity with the ongoing struggles of indigenous peoples and local communities seeking to secure their land rights. The launch also marks the official start of the Land Rights Now campaign, calling for the amount of land these communities own to double by 2020.

Mike Taylor, the International Land Coalition (ILC) Director, said: “Billions of people around the world depend on their land to live; if we do not fight to secure this essential human right, we are turning our backs on them, their cultures, and the environment. The lives of those who depend on community-owned land for their homes and livelihoods are at stake.”

With livelihood security in decline for many forest dependent communities and peoples, the need to ensure full legal and practical protections for customary rights to land, territory and forest resources is increasingly urgent. The launch of the Land Rights Now campaign will help to draw international attention to the many rights-based approaches to curbing deforestation advocated by forest peoples themselves.

The report and the Land Rights Now campaign highlight the experiences of people who depend on land and forests for their livelihoods as well as their cultural identity.

Nicholas Fredericks, a spokesman for the Wapichan people of Guyana, where lands are under threat, said: “These forests are our life, but they are being taken from us. Outsiders have a financial view of the land. They see it as money. We see it as life. We have to win… for the future of our people.”

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, said: “Oxfam is standing with the 2.5 billion people around the world who rely on community lands – for their livelihoods, security and cultural identity. We are calling for indigenous and community land rights to be secured once and for all: this struggle is as much about fighting poverty as it is about tackling injustice and inequality; and advancing women’s rights.”

The importance of land rights is underscored in two major recent international agreements, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Addressing the unique needs of the world’s 2.5 billion Indigenous Peoples and local communities is crucial to fulfilling the aspiration of the SDGs to “leave no one behind.”

To mark the launch of the Global Call to Action, Forest Peoples Programme is supporting events taking place around the world, including Guyana, Kenya, Suriname, Peru and Liberia.

UNEP lifts wildlife trade embargo on Nigeria

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As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in marking the 2016 World Wildlife Day, Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, has disclosed that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has lifted the suspension on trade between Nigeria and other countries in all endangered plants and animal species as well as related products.

Nigeria's Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed. Photo credit: i.vimeocdn.com
Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed. Photo credit: i.vimeocdn.com

The Minister has also asked Nigerians to do everything within the ambit of the law to protect the country’s wildlife, emphasising that the nation stands the risk of losing economic and social opportunities which wildlife presents to the economy in particular and the ecosystem in general.

Giving the charge in a press statement released in Abuja on the occasion of the 2016 World Wildlife Day, the Minister stated: “Endangering wild life threatens our personal wellbeing, the livelihood of local communities and our natural heritage. Wildlife forms a significant part of our biodiversity and plays a unique role as an indicator of ecological change. Without wildlife, we will lose the opportunity of economic and social value which wildlife brings to our ecosystem.”

World Wildlife Day is celebrated every 3rd of March as established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the 20th of December, 2013 at its 68th session. The day is set aside for all nations of the world to focus on the critical importance of protecting the fauna and flora (plants and animals) which are the world’s essential and natural heritage for the present and future generations. The day offers an opportunity to re-affirm the world’s commitments to the protection and preservation of wildlife, says the UNGA.

The theme for this year’s World Wild Life Day is “The future of wildlife is in our hands”, apparently implying a clarion call to all and sundry that protecting and conserving wild life throughout the world should be an individual and collective responsibility.

“We all have a role to play in the conservation and survival of our wildlife resources throughout the country,” said Mohammed.

Wildlife exploitation, illicit trade and habitat fragmentation are the key threats to biodiversity as they concern thousands of plants and animals’ species and can lead to extinction if not properly addressed, according to scientists. Hence, the UNGA resolution designated the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora secretariat as an instrument for monitoring illegal trade in wildlife species. CITES is also the facilitator for the global observance of the special day for wildlife.

In Nigeria, the Ministry is the focal point of implementation and has domesticated the convention, “the Endangered Species Act” to conserve wild species that are almost driven into extinction due to over exploitation, habitat change and illicit trafficking; such as cheetahs, lions, tigers, leopard, gorilla, manatee and high value timbers such as ebony and mahogany.

“We also need to protect many animals that are currently facing threats, such as elephants which are highly sourced for their ivory; pangolins for their scales; crocodiles for their skin and parrots as pets,” said the minister.

Ben Bem Goong, the Ministry’s spokesperson, submitted in a statement: “The Ministry of Environment under the leadership of Amina Mohammed and Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Minister of State) remains committed to saving our fragile wildlife from extinction and empowering communities whose livelihoods depends on wildlife resources. The Minister therefore urges every Nigerian to think of the future generation with a change of attitude towards wildlife exploitation and Conservation of the ecosystem.”

Nigeria was suspended from international trade in endangered species in March 2015 following its inability to submit an adequate National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) in accordance with the provisions of CITES.

Peruvian community flays state oil firm over devastating spill

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On the 18th February 2016 the autonomous territorial government of the indigenous Wampis people (Wampis GTA) submitted a formal complaint to Peru’s regulatory body for the environment (OEFA) accusing the state oil company (Petroperú) of gross negligence for its failure to prevent and contain the oil spill in the Wampis community of Mayuriaga. As a preventative measure the Wampis GTA demand that the pumping of oil along a branch of the pipeline is suspended.

Oil spill site in Mayoriaga
Oil spill site in Mayuriaga

The spill which, according to OEFA reports, occurred on the 3rd of February 2016 affected an area of 400m2 of land immediately adjacent to the pipeline before flowing into the Cashacaño river which itself flows into the river Morona. The reports document contamination along the length and both banks of the Cashacaño river to its confluence with the River Morona from where the spill extended a further 1.5 hours travel downriver (see reports (Spanish only) referred to in Resolución Directoral 012-2016-OEFA/DS of 15th February 2016).

OEFA’s final resolution which also referred to another spill on the river Chiriaco from the same pipeline on the 25th January highlights that “the affected bodies of water and soil support the subsistence livelihood of the native communities and surrounding populations” and that “for this reason both incidents represent a high risk of adverse impact, not only to the Inayo and Cashacaño tributaries and to the Chiraco and Morona rivers but also to the lives and health of those people who live in areas adjacent to these spills”.

In its report OEFA clearly establishes that the cause of these spills “both of which are from the Northern Peruvian pipeline operated by Petroperú… are the result of deterioration of the pipeline… due to failures caused by external corrosion which makes evident that Petroperú is not adopting the necessary measures to prevent spills that have environmental impacts”. OEFA’s damning conclusion is that these spills are “not isolated cases” and have documented 20 failures since April 2011 when OEFA assumed its operations.

The Wampis’ formal complaint to OEFA, which was submitted with the legal and human rights organisation, IDL (Institute of Legal Defence), demands that the regulatory body issue sanctions against Petroperú, provides effective oversight of a robust plan for control and remediation of the spill and ensures that Petroperú provide adequate alternative sources of food and water for affected communities.

Finally, given the shortcomings and incapacity of Petroperú to maintain its own pipeline the Wampis GTA demand the immediate suspension of pumping along the Northern branch of the pipeline as the “only effective measure that could prevent irreparable harm to the environment and harm to the health of neighbouring populations along the Northern Peruvian oil pipeline.”

Wrays Perez Ramirez, recently elected Pamuk or President of the Wampis GTA said: “This oil spill has already resulted in severe and irreparable harm to the community lands of Mayuriaga and to our collective territory as a people. Responsibility lies squarely with Petroperú who have acted with complete negligence. Over more than 40 years they have failed to maintain and repair their pipeline knowing full well that it needs constant maintenance and replacement every 10-15 years.

“We, the Wampis, never authorised or gave our consent to the construction of this pipeline in our territory yet we suffer the consequences. This is another example of where we have lost control over our territory which has been subdivided by the State into different village lands or issued as concessions to different companies. It is exactly this kind of problem that our territorial government is trying to address.”

The recently formed Wampis government which was elected by Wampis villages in November 2015 to assume jurisdiction over 1.4 million hectares of their customary land will bring together its almost 100 delegates (Irunin) representing its constituent communities to a summit meeting in the village of Soledad on the river Santiago from the 13th – 19th March 2016.

The Irunin are proposing several measures to address the situation which includes two planned legal resolutions. The first declares the affected area to be in a state of environmental and health emergency while the second annuls all those concessions, infrastructure projects and other state backed initiatives in their territory that have failed to comply with legal requirements to consult with the Wampis and secure their Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

These measures, which form part of the Wampis’ pioneering efforts to safeguard their ancestral lands, will be announced to coincide with the Global Call to Action on Indigenous and Community Land Rights which was launched today by an international coalition and is backed by more than 300 organisations all over the world.

Pollution: Shell reacts as fresh international legal actions are launched

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Two Nigerian Niger Delta communities are suing oil big-wig Shell and asking for compensation for oil spills on their land. It is the second in five years that Shell will be sued to court.

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A polluted river in the Niger Delta region

One of the two communities involved is the Ogale community with a population of 40,000. In an area where most people derive their livelihood from fishing, oil spills have deprived the people of their livelihood as well as clean water.

The Bille community is the other party to the case and they claim that Shell should be held liable for the spills caused by the vandalisation of pipelines primarily because Shell did not properly secure its pipelines.

The law firm Leigh Day is handling the case to determine if the claimants can indeed institute proceedings against Shell.

A report by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in 2011 suggested a clean up after it was discovered that the water in both communities were contaminated with oil by products. Despite the recommendation and subsequent agreement by Shell, there have been no efforts to clean up the area.

Leigh Day said in a statement, “It is scandalous that four years after the UNEP Report, Shell is yet to clean up its oil in either Ogale or Bille. Our client’s patience has now run out and we intend to force Shell to act since it is clear they have no intention of doing so on their own.”

A spokesperson for the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Olugbenga Odugbesan, said in a statement: “We are at an early stage of reviewing the claims made by the Bille and Ogale communities.  Both Bille and Ogale are areas heavily impacted by crude oil theft, pipeline sabotage and illegal refining which remain the main sources of pollution across the Niger Delta.  Ogale is in Ogoniland and it is important to note that SPDC has produced no oil or gas in Ogoniland since 1993.  Access to the area has been limited following a rise in violence, threats to staff and attacks on facilities.

“The Bille and Ogale communities have chosen to bring these claims in the UK instead of in Nigeria, whose laws govern our operations.  It is our intention to contest the jurisdiction of the English court over these claims.  We believe that allegations concerning Nigerian plaintiffs in dispute with a Nigerian company, over issues which took place within Nigeria, should be heard in Nigeria.”

“Furthermore, Ogoniland is the area covered by the United Nations Environment Programme’s Environmental Assessment (‘the UNEP report’) of 2011. UNEP presented its recommendations as an opportunity to bring a culture of multi-stakeholder cooperation to Ogoniland, a process in which SPDC has been involved.  SPDC has also initiated action to address all the recommendations directed to it in the UNEP report as operator of the SPDC Joint Venture.  In mid-2015 SPDC JV, along with the government, UNEP and representatives of the Ogoni community, agreed to an 18-month roadmap to fast-track the environmental clean-up and remediation of Ogoniland which includes a governance framework.

“These steps have been widely lauded across civil society in Nigeria and have been welcomed by members of the Ogoni community itself. Asking the English court to intervene and order remediation activity covering the same ground as the UNEP implementation plan is a direct challenge to the internal political acts and decisions of the Nigerian State, and its sovereign right to determine, within its own territory, the appropriate future path for the Ogoni community.”

Photos: Ségolène Royal visits Côte d’Ivoire

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Newly appointed President of COP21, Ségolène Royal, last week paid a courtesy visit to the West African French-speaking nation of Côte d’Ivoire.

Royal, who recently replaced Laurent Fabius, the French Minister of Environment, Energy and Marine, was in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, for several days, apparently to gather the support of President Ouattara Alasane towards the realisation of Africa’s transition to renewable energy, two months ahead of the planned formal signing of the Paris Agreement in New York.

Besides being hosted at the Presidential Palace, she convened a panel discussion at the French Embassy in Cocody and visited some noteworthy places.

Ms. Royal with President Ouattara Alasane
Ms. Royal with President Ouattara Alasane
Royal with senior government officials
Royal with senior government officials
During a trip to the Abidjan Banco National Park
During a trip to the Abidjan Banco National Park
On a tour with government officials
On a tour with government officials
With Ivorian Environment Minister, Rémi Allah-Kouadio
With Ivorian Environment Minister, Rémi Allah-Kouadio
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