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Earthfile: The Danger Of Extinction For Nigeria’s Wildlife

On March 3 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) was adopted. CITES is a critical international … Continue reading Earthfile: The Danger Of Extinction For Nigeria’s Wildlife


earthfileOn March 3 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) was adopted.

CITES is a critical international treaty that works to ensure that global trade does not threaten the survival of species in the wild.

Starting out small, the treaty boasts 180 governments as parties (members of the treaty that agree to comply with its requirements), and it is recognized as one of the most important and effective mechanisms regulating the practice of conservation.

The UN General Assembly, in December 2013, declared March 3 as World Wildlife Day – a day, according to the UN, to “celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that conservation provides to people.

In 2013, the United Nations Environment Programme published a report on the illicit trade in apes. According to the report, Nigeria’s Cross River gorillas are some of those that may be lost before 2030.

Climate change, linked with the burning of fossil fuels, is already impacting many animals and plants and in myriads of ways. These could spell decline and even extinction for some without an urgent transition of our economies and our lifestyles towards a low carbon economy.

This is the focus of Earthfile on this edition.