Nigeria and Cameroon sign MoU to combat cross-border wildlife trade

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Nigerian government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with neighboring Cameroon to collaborate in the fight against cross-border wildlife trade and promote ecosystem conservation and forestry and wildlife management.

The agreement was signed in Abuja by Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas, and Cameroon’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Jules Doret Ndongo.

Speaking during the signing of the MoU (Cooperation Framework Agreement on Transboundary Ecosystem Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forestry and Wildlife Resources), the Nigerian Minister said the agreement symbolizes a milestone and provides a platform for the establishment of a joint transboundary management framework.

He explained that the implementation of the agreement aims to monitor and coordinate identified areas of cooperation, ensure that special protocols are consistent with identified areas of cooperation, cooperate in the implementation of common cross-border programs, and strengthen the institutional and to develop mobilization of funds for the implementation of common cross-border programs.

The minister said: “Apart from the global phenomenon of climate change and environmental challenges, social factors including overpopulation, poverty and food insecurity continue to push these resources to the brink of extinction. While this has been going on, transboundary crimes such as illegal logging, poaching and wildlife trafficking have further exacerbated the trend and appear to have confirmed the resounding yet appalling warning revealed in the landmark Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. IPBES), Global Assessment Report 2019, that approximately one million species are threatened with extinction, many of them within decades.

“With our common border stretching for more than 1,500 km, stopping and reversing the unsavory trend cannot be achieved by one country’s political will and commitment alone, but more promising is the adoption of bilateral and multilateral approaches, especially if we consider the continuum and its migratory nature. resources against the background of the complexity of their transboundary management and conservation.

“In this regard, today’s event is of great significance as it not only underlines the commitment of the current government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to work with Cameroon to manage and conserve our shared natural resources, but also the importance of bilateral cooperation. in tackling global challenges. It can therefore be said that this agreement is strengthened by this long history and is an appropriate response to the international commitments entered into by the parties.

“It symbolizes a milestone and provides a platform for the establishment of a joint transboundary management framework, which will facilitate cooperation and coordination between our countries on matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of our natural resources. This framework will play an important role in ensuring the effective conservation and sustainable management of our forests and wildlife resources, which are critical to our ecosystem services, livelihoods and sustainable development.

“This agreement will further facilitate the development and implementation of joint programs and projects for the conservation and sustainable management of transboundary ecosystems, as well as promote the sharing of experiences, knowledge and best practices between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon. ”

For his part, Cameroon’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Jules Doret Ndongo, assured that Cameroon would do everything possible to implement the agreement.

He said: “The overexploitation of forest resources and poaching, especially cross-border poaching, pose a serious threat to the sustainable management of our natural resources and are therefore one of the causes of climate change.

“Given its importance, I urge all parties involved in this process to step up their commitment to the implementation of this instrument. Please be assured that the Government of Cameroon will endeavor to do everything possible to implement this agreement,” he said.

In his remarks, the Head of the Environment and Climate Change Department of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Bernard Koffi, represented by ECOWAS Advisor Adewale Adeleke, said: “This is an agreement that ECOWAS is looking forward to, we must If we working together, we must share experiences and work together, both legally and with communities, to secure the resources of both provinces.”