The President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, has said that the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development will unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy.
Cattle ranching
Othman-Ngelzarma, who made the submission on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, while commending President Bola Tinubu for the creation of the ministry, said that the ministry would create qualitative and productive jobs across the livestock value chain to improve the Nigerian economy.
“With this development, MACBAN believes, the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renew Hope Agenda.
“The promise made by President Tinubu, to raise the productive capacity of the Nigerian agriculture to ensure food security is being fulfilled.
“We as an association had for years been agitating tooth and nail to actualise the creation of a stand-alone ministry to modernise livestock production system in line with global best practices,” he said.
Othman-Ngelzarma pledged support to the federal government to turn livestock production into a foreign exchange earner and reduce the farmer/ herder conflicts and its related security challenges.
According to him, Nigerian pastoralists appreciate this historic development, adding that they would reciprocate the gesture.
“On behalf of Chairman and members Board of trustees of MACBAN, his Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, and entire members of Cattle Breeders association of Nigeria across the nation heartily congratulate the President and Commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed forces for this wonderful development.”
It will be recalled that President Tinubu on Tuesday announced the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The president made the declaration during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
A recent visit to one of the East African countries brought me face to face with the economic and political power hidden in the informal sector of the back street workforces in Africa.
The informal sector
The economies of most African countries run on the wheels of the informal sector. Yet, this vast sector, which accounts for more than seventy per cent of the GDP in some countries, is largely unorganised, untrained and unrecognised as an economic unit.
One of the major effects of colonialism has been that successive governments since independence have tread only the established paths of the colonialists for the economic emancipation of their people. This has proven to be a colossal failure as most of these countries, except a few such as Singapore, from Africa to the Asia Pacific, have escaped the trap of underdevelopment, poverty, and want. There must be something wrong with these countries, located in different parts of the world but still experiencing similar economic situations despite their diverse political experiences and struggles.
African societies are organised differently from other societies in the world. There are unique features of the African economy that Western economic experts have not factored into their calculations, and they have made all their recommendations achieve the opposite. African economic emancipation must be homegrown to be impactful and sustainable.
Moreover, the colonial economy was never intended to empower the Indigenous population; thus, the economic structures that empowered the Indigenous population were dismantled and are still being dismantled by prescriptions that Western economic experts have been dishing out to African countries. Corruption is a serious impediment, but it is not the only challenge African countries face. Wrong prescriptions have done more damage by pauperising the generality of the population and encouraging corruption in its wake.
The informal sector plays a crucial role in African countries, acting as a significant source of employment and economic activity. However, it is largely unorganised and unregulated, and its impact is only grudgingly acknowledged.
In many African countries, informal activities, particularly agriculture and trade, contribute around 50% of the economic output and 85% of employment. This sector, characterised by its resilience and adaptability, has provided livelihoods for a sizeable proportion of the population. Despite often operating outside formal structures, the informal economy has shown remarkable self-governance and structure. With the advent of digitalisation and fintech, this sector has a huge potential for promoting financial and economic inclusion.
As Africa moves towards recovery and development, especially in the post-COVID-19 era, there is a growing recognition of the informal economy’s role in fostering inclusive structural transformations and offering pathways to formality.
The advantages for developing countries, especially in Africa, to focus on their informal economy and regulate and recognise them are numerous. It includes but is not limited to the following:
Employment: The informal sector is a major source of employment, especially with the prevalent high levels of unemployment or underemployment. Many people, particularly those with limited education or formal skills, find employment opportunities in small-scale businesses, street vending/hawking, domestic work, and other informal activities.
Income Generation: For millions of individuals and households, the informal sector generates income and supports livelihoods. It offers opportunities for entrepreneurship and self-employment, allowing people to earn a living through small businesses or informal trading activities. All the government needs to do is upgrade the skills set and quality of production in the informal sector, and it will be transformed into a source of foreign exchange inflow.
Poverty Alleviation: The informal sector often serves as a critical safety net for society’s poor and vulnerable segments. It provides opportunities for marginalised groups, such as women, youth, the disabled and rural populations, to engage in economic activities and improve their living standards. With improved earning power, they will be able to participate in government urban renewal/slum eradication programmes and sustain their environment.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Informal enterprises are typically characterised by their flexibility and adaptability to changing economic conditions. They can quickly respond to market demands, adjust prices, and introduce new products or services, contributing to economic resilience, particularly in times of crisis.
Units of Production and Provision of Services: They redirect the populace from rent seekers and economically dependent citizens to a production-focused population. Traditional manufacturing and production hubs will be organised, and the quality of their output will be improved and made exportable. Thus, transforming the entire country into an economic production hub.
Contribution to GDP: Although difficult to accurately quantify due to its informal nature, the informal sector is estimated to significantly contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) of many African countries. It accounts for a substantial portion of economic activity, especially in agriculture, retail trade, construction, small-scale manufacturing and services.
Tax Revenue: While informal enterprises may operate outside the formal tax system, they still contribute to government revenue through indirect taxes, such as sales taxes on goods and services. However, the potential for tax evasion and revenue leakage remains challenging for policymakers seeking to formalise and regulate the informal sector. With a focused policy thrust to facilitate their operations, their confidence can be won by government and easily brought into the tax net in a win-win relationship.
Challenges and Informality: Despite its contributions, the informal sector faces challenges, including limited access to finance, lack of legal recognition and protection, inadequate infrastructure, and vulnerability to exploitation and harassment. Addressing these challenges require concerted efforts to create an enabling environment for informal enterprises to thrive while promoting their gradual inclusion or transition to the formal economy.
Economic Growth: Integrating the informal sector into the formal economy can contribute to economic growth. By recognising and formalising informal businesses, governments can expand the tax base, increase revenue collection, and stimulate economic activity. This can lead to higher GDP growth rates and improved living standards for the population.
Poverty Reduction: The informal sector plays a crucial role in poverty reduction by providing income-generating opportunities for the poor and vulnerable segments of society. Tapping into the informal economy can help lift people out of poverty by enabling them to earn a living through self-employment, entrepreneurship, and small-scale business activities.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Informal enterprises are often characterised by their creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit. Tapping into the informal sector can unleash the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship, leading to the development of new products, services, and business models. This can drive economic diversification, enhance competitiveness, and foster sustainable development.
Social Inclusion: Integrating informal workers and businesses into the formal economy can promote social inclusion and reduce inequality. Government can empower informal workers and improve their socio-economic status by providing access to formal financial services, social protections, and legal rights. This can help reduce social disparities and promote inclusive growth.
Resource Efficiency: Informal enterprises are often characterized by their ability to operate with limited resources and minimal overhead costs. Tapping into the informal sector can enhance resource efficiency by leveraging existing skills, knowledge, and networks within local communities. This can lead to more sustainable resource use and greater resilience to economic shocks. Experience and expertise can be recognised, licensed and certified incentivised through a robust programme of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Cultural Preservation: Informal economies often reflect local communities, cultural traditions, practices, and values. Tapping into the informal sector while respecting cultural diversity can help preserve traditional livelihoods and promote cultural heritage. This can contribute to communities’ overall well-being and identity, particularly in rural areas.
Overall, tapping into the informal sector of the African economy can offer a range of benefits, including job creation, economic growth, poverty reduction, innovation, social inclusion, resource efficiency, and cultural preservation. However, it requires a comprehensive approach that combines policy reforms, institutional support, and stakeholder engagement to effectively harness the potential of the informal sector for sustainable development.
This in my view lies the hidden shortcut to the African economic transformation.
Only when we put Africans to work in their locality, doing what they know best at a higher level of quality and efficiency can we successfully commence the journey of sustainable national development.
By Bldr. Samson Ameh Opaluwah, Chairman, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON)
Climate activists in Germany have criticised major investors for continuing to invest billions in the oil, gas, and coal industry.
Katrin Ganswindt
The investments are hindering the timely transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate global warming, said Katrin Ganswindt, a member of the environmental organisation Urgewald.
Urgewald, along with 13 partner organisations, published the financial research report investing in Climate Chaos, providing insights into the investments of over 7,500 institutional investors globally.
Financial data collected in May 2024 revealed that these investors collectively hold $4.3 trillion in bonds and shares of the companies involved in fossil fuel industries.
It’s with nearly two-thirds of these investments held by U.S. companies, according to the report.
The report demanded that institutional investors needed to start shifting the trillions to supercharge the energy transition and not fossil fuel expansion.
Climate researchers warned that if current trends continued, the world would be on track nearly three degrees hotter, primarily due to emissions from coal, oil, and gas.
After decades of discussion, the international community agreed for the first time at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai in December to move away from coal, oil and gas.
In spite of this agreement, environmentalists are raising concerns about potential loopholes.
An NGO, Centre for Water and Environmental Development (CWED), on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, mobilised fresh students of Geography Department of the Kaduna State University (KASU) to plant 150 economic trees to combat desertification.
Tree planting at Kaduna State University (KASU)
The tree planting exercise was in commemoration of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “United for Land our Legacy”.
Speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the exercise, CWED’s Programme Officer, Mrs Lydia Saleh, said the NGO would leverage the students of KASU to ensure sustainability of the trees.
She added that nurturing the trees by the students would not only guarantee the survival of the trees but also provide a unique opportunity for them to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical way.
By engaging the students, Lydia said CWED aims to instill a sense of ownership and responsibility in them, by ensuring that they take care of the trees and monitor their growth.
Saleh said, “This approach will also help to build a community of young environmental stewards who will continue to promote sustainability and environmental conservation in the future.
“The trees, which are also economic ones, will provide a source of fruits and income to the students.”
She expressed optimism that the exercise would yield positive results and contribute significantly to the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of KASU, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, stressed the importance of sustainability in the tree planting exercise.
Musa, represented by Dr Aliyu Ja’afar, the Chairman of Green KASU, said that the university was committed to promoting environmental conservation and sustainability, where the tree planting exercise was a testament to the institution’s commitment.
The vice-chancellor emphasised that the trees would provide shade, improve air quality, and serve as a carbon sink, ultimately contributing to a healthier environment.
He commended CWED for its partnership and support in promoting sustainability and environmental conservation.
Musa urged the students to take ownership of the project and ensure the trees’ survival.
Also, the Head of Department (HOD) of Geography Department, KASU, Dr B. R. Atiyong, said tree planting was an important aspect of Geography.
According to him, the environment encompasses all the aspects that sustain human survival which includes the water we drink, air we breathe and the land we cultivate.
He thanked CWED for the Initiative, while pledging to ensure that the students nurtured the trees to grow before they graduated.
Delivering a presentation by a resource person, Dr Joseph Ariko, said that as the world grappled with the challenges of climate change, it was imperative that people came together to protect the land and ensure a sustainable future.
The title of his presentation was “United for land our legacy in the face of climate change”.
Ariko, represented by Abu-Hanifa Babaji, said the issue of land degradation was of global concern, adding that government agencies in Nigeria saddled with such tasks were doing their best.
He called for continuous sensitisation on the effects and need for actions that would stem environmental degradation and climate change.
The students thanked CWED and their university for providing them with the opportunity to begin applying their theoretical knowledge in a practical way.
One of them, Gimba Joel, said through the exercise, he had learnt the importance of teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.
Joel said he would nurture the tree he planted and monitor its growth to ensure it became a symbol of his dedication to environmental conservation.
The trees planted included mahogani, sour soup, mango, orange, pawpaw and dates, among others.
African policymakers, gender experts, and development actors are calling on countries and the region to invest and collaborate more to finance the production and use of gender data to improve the lives of women and girls.
A session at the Africa Gender Statistics Forum 2024
Senior public sector officials and civil society actors from nearly 40 African countries are convened in Gaborone, Botswana, from July 8 to 12, 2024, for the Africa Gender Statistics Forum 2024 (AGSF24). This year’s AGSF aims to take stock of Africa’s progress and gender perceptions in the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the 3rd Africa Programme on Gender Statistics.
Held under the theme Pooling Together for Gender Statistics: Financing the Numbers that Make Women and Girls Count, the 2024 theme is informed by the International Women’s Day 2024 call: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.
“The financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stands at $1.3 trillion per year,” said William Muhwava, Chief of the Demographic and Social Statistics Section speaking on behalf of Oliver Chinganya, Director of the African Centre for Statistics, at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
“Africa needs at least an additional $800 million per year towards meeting the SDGs. At the current pace, gender equality will only be achieved in 2094,” said Muhwava.
While development assistance for gender equality has increased every year since 2015, funding for gender data and statistics has fallen by nearly half compared to averages from 2019.
“Investing in the production and use of gender data and leveraging this for gender equality is thus the crucial shared goal of AGSF24,” said Aleta Miller, Representative for UN Women’s South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO).
As one of the most significant annual meetings of producers and users of gender statistics in Africa, the AGSF provides an invaluable platform for raising the bar on how the region makes available and uses the data that can be applied for evidence-based policy and decision-making, including gender-responsive budgeting to improve the lives of African women and girls.
“This is a valuable opportunity to strengthen regional collaboration, share best practices, and strategize on how best to raise and pooling resources for the production and use of gender data,” said Ms. Bridget John, Botswana’s Permanent Secretary for Youth, Sports, and Culture.
“Sharing expertise and fostering cross-pollination of ideas through this cross-disciplinary forum will ensure that we gain the new practical knowledge necessary to move forward this agenda,” said Principal Secretary John.
The bottom line remains that gender data and statistics are crucial to effectively catering for the diverse realities of women and men, boys and girls in Africa’s development.
“Without a gender-specific approach to statistics, the planning and implementation of policies, programs and projects will not sufficiently take into account the difference in the status of men and women,” said Koffi Marc Kouakou, AfDB Principal Gender Statistician-Economist speaking on behalf of Nathalie Gahunga, Manager of AfDB’s Gender and Women Empowerment Division.
The sixth AGSF is jointly hosted by Statistics Botswana, the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), PARIS21, the Southern African Development Cooperation (SADC) and UN Women under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
The fifth meeting of the Organising Committee has been held in connection with the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Fifth meeting of COP29 Organising Committee
The final text of the Host Country Agreement between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Secretariat of the UNFCCC will be ready soon, Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Samir Nuriyev, said at the meeting.
He noted that the text of the agreement is being prepared taking into account the conclusions of the relevant government bodies.
He added that, after the Bonn Climate Conference, Azerbaijan entered the active phase of its chairmanship at COP29.
Nuriyev said that, based on proposals from government agencies and discussions with the UN and international organisations, an initial list of 14 initiatives has been prepared. Also, in agreement with the UN, thematic days of COP29 have already been distributed.
The meeting was addressed by the head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and chairman of the organising committee, Samir Nuriyev; Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and President of COP29, Mukhtar Babayev; assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov; head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov; assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmat Hajiyev; Ombudswoman of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva; Minister of Emergency Situations, Kamaladdin Heydarov; Head of the Baku Executive Power, Eldar Azizov; and others.
Instructions were given on the implementation of the Action Plan related to the organisation and conduct of COP29 and other relevant issues.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is discussing 15 initiatives as part of its COP29 chairmanship agenda, Director-General of COP29, Elnur Sultanov, said.
“Azerbaijan can come up with its own initiatives within the agenda of its chairmanship at COP29. We are already discussing 15 initiatives and I am confident that in terms of effectiveness and the process itself (of preparation for COP29), Azerbaijan will make its contribution and become a good example for other countries,” Soltanov told journalists.
He also noted that negotiations within the COP29 are ongoing.
“With less and less time left before COP29, we must complete more than 50% of our work by November 11 to successfully implement the entire program. The negotiation process continues, we take a neutral position in it, decisions must be made by other countries,” Soltanov added.
The NNPC Ltd has said that the fuel queues seen in the FCT, and some parts of the country are because of disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.
Fuel sale
The adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck loadouts and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
The NNPC Ltd also states that, due to flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.
According to NNPC Ltd, it is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.
“Already, loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy would be restored.”
The NNPC also calls on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products.
Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to managing transboundary waters for the Niger Basin region’s benefit.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made this pledge on Monday, July 8, 2024, during a regional workshop in Abuja to validate a mission’s results for a pilot demonstration project.
Utsev was represented by Mr Adeyinka Adenopo, Director of Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services at the ministry.
He noted the project’s focus on innovative technologies, capacity development, and joint monitoring to support Mount Mandara ecosystem governance.
He emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in managing the Mount Mandara Plateau and Sena Oura/Bouba Ndjida (BSB) ecosystems, shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad.
He thanked the Global Environment Facility, UN Environment Programme, UN Development Programme and the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) for their ongoing support in enhancing regional water governance.
The minister urged participants to contribute their expertise to refine these reports, enhancing the governance and preservation of the transboundary ecosystems.
He noted the significance of preserving the Mount Mandara Plateau and Sena Oura/Bouba Ndjida ecosystems and the vital role of transboundary cooperation in achieving sustainable management.
Earlier, NBA Executive Secretary Mr Abderahim Bireme, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for hosting the workshop and acknowledged the efforts of various stakeholders in organising the event.
Mr Allomasso Tchokponhoué, the Regional Project Coordinator of NB-ITTAS, representing the Executive Secretary, stressed the project’s importance in supporting sustainable management and governance of the Mount Mandara Plateau ecosystems.
He underscored the NBA’s role in promoting international and cross-border cooperation for natural resource management and poverty reduction.
He outlined the project’s goals to enhance knowledge-based management, governance, and conservation of the Niger Basin’s resources and aquifer systems.
Bireme reaffirmed the NBA’s commitment to inclusive development initiatives in the Niger Basin and the preservation of the Mount Mandara Plateau’s biodiversity.
The event was attended by representatives from UNDP, NBA, local authorities, and various socio-professional organisations.
The workshop served as a platform for presenting consultant reports on capacity building, sustainable management, and establishing a joint monitoring mechanism.
It concluded with a call for continued support and dedication to the noble objectives of conserving the Niger Basin’s natural resources.
The Niger Basin Authority defines its purpose as the promotion of cooperation among member countries to ensure integrated development of resources.
The nine member states are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali and Niger and Nigeria.
Global temperatures have averaged 1.64 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels over the past year, with scientists warning it marks a “large and continuing shift in our climate”.
Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)
The latest figures from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service found June was the 13th month in a row that was record-breaking for the time of year.
The month was 1.5C above the estimated June average for 1850-1900.
The baseline used to measure temperature rises caused by human activity as the world has industrialised and used fossil fuels, and cleared forests, at increasing levels.
It is the 12th consecutive month to reach or break the key 1.5C threshold.
Countries have committed to curb global warming to 1.5C to avoid the worst impacts of floods, drought, heat, extreme weather and rising sea levels.
Although the past 12 months reaching that level did not mean the threshold has been permanently breached, as it is measured over a long timeframe.
Scientists have warned that records would continue to fall if humans do not halt greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere.
The average global temperature for the past 12 months, from July 2023 to June 2024, is the highest on record and has been 1.64C above pre-industrial level, Copernicus warned.
It also found that the average sea surface temperature for June 2024, away from the Polar Regions, was 20.85C, the highest value on record for the month.
This made it the 15th month in a row that seas have seen record warmth for the time of year.
Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), said.
“June marks the 13th consecutive month of record-breaking global temperatures, and the 12th in a row above 1.5C with respect to pre-industrial.
“This is more than a statistical oddity and it highlights a large and continuing shift in our climate.
“Even if this specific streak of extremes ends at some point, we are bound to see new records being broken as the climate continues to warm.
“This is inevitable, unless we stop adding greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and the oceans.”
Responding to the announcement, Teresa Anderson, global climate justice lead at ActionAid International, said: “the nightmare of climate change is now real as intolerable heatwaves, devastating cyclones and ecosystem losses spread across the planet.
“The fundamental injustice of climate change is that millions of the poorest people across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, who have done the least to cause the problem, are forced to suffer the worst impacts.
“This is a terrible warning that climate action has to move into a much higher gear,” she advised.
She urged the wealthiest polluting countries had to stop fuelling the fire and agree to pay for the damage they were causing.
Zoonotic diseases can jump between man and animals
The recent outbreak of Mpox, a virus that can be transmitted from rodents and primates, in South Africa, Nigeria, and the DRC, has again highlighted the crucial need for awareness. This comes swiftly after COVID-19 brought the world to a halt, a zoonotic disease thought to have originated in bats and probably spread to humans from raccoon dogs on sale as bushmeat.
Emerging infectious diseases are on the rise.Biodiversity loss, the extinction of species or a significant reduction in population sizes, has been identified as a major driver of outbreaks. A recent metaanalysis covering 1,000 studies made this clear.
Habitat loss, the degradation and destruction of natural ecosystems, while itself not linked to infectious disease outbreaks in the analysis, contributes to biodiversity loss and is caused by agricultural expansion, logging, mining, livestock grazing, and population growth. Deforestation, even of select species of trees, can have knock-on effects, as seen in Uganda, where the cutting of palm trees caused changes in animal diets.
“Zoonotic diseases, brought about by biodiversity loss and harmful practices within the bushmeat trade, have far-reaching economic consequences, too. In 2015 for example the Ebola epidemic cost countries, like Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone estimated losses of US$1.6 billion in forgone economic growth, according to the World Bank.”
The public needs to better understand how these diseases can be spread. The greatest transmission risk occurs when humans and animals, both wild and domestic, interact in close proximity. Humans are at risk when exposed to infected live animals or livestock products, such as meat, milk, and eggs.
The bushmeat trade poses several risks as it can involve exposure to pathogens carried in wild animals, often in poor health from immense stress, poor diet, dehydration and poor hygiene in the transport and handling process. Widespread bushmeat trade networks can spread pathogens over large areas and habitat disruption increases the likelihood of exposure to never-before encountered pathogens.
Zoonosis infographic
While up to 200 zoonotic diseases exist, these have recently come to attention:
Mpox: Similar to smallpox but less severe, it can be transmitted to humans from various wild animals, including rodents and primates.
COVID-19: COVID-19 is caused by a Coronavirus, specifically SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is thought to have originally come from bats and possibly transmitted to civets or raccoon dogs, then to humans.
Anthrax: Spores can be found in soil and infect herbivorous animals, including wild game, which can then transmit the bacteria to humans.
Lassa Fever: Spread by rodents, specifically the Natal multimammate mouse, common in West Africa.
Ebola Virus Disease: Primarily transmitted to people from wild animals, such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, and monkeys.
HIV/AIDS: Believed to have originated from the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) found in chimpanzees and sooty mangabey monkeys.
Marburg Virus Disease: Similar to Ebola, Marburg virus is linked to fruit bats and can cause severe hemorrhagic fever.
Yellow Fever: Transmitted by mosquitoes, it can spread from monkeys in the jungle to humans.
Zika Virus: Also spread by mosquitoes, it can be transmitted between monkeys and humans.
Bird Flu: As the name suggests, the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu comes from birds – both domestic and wild, like seagulls and cormorants.
“Collaboration across governments, NGOs, and society at large is crucial to combat new outbreaks,” continues Unah.
“Governments need to be prepared and ready for pandemics, but we also need to address the root causes of these new diseases, which is our behaviour towards nature. If we protected and respected wildlife and their habitats, the risks would be much lower. By keeping wildlife wild, we really are keeping ourselves safe. Protecting nature protects us all,” he adds.
