The Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Dr. Joseph Onoja, has called for urgent protection of Nigeria’s wetlands, warning that climate change is steadily shrinking these vital ecosystems. Speaking with Zoyols Blog on the outcomes of the Ramsar COP15 conference held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Onoja stressed that wetlands are crucial for environmental stability, food security, and human survival.
He explained that the Ramsar Convention, which began in Iran, remains the world’s foremost treaty for conserving wetlands and promoting their sustainable use. Member countries, he said, regularly meet to review progress and strengthen strategies for global wetland protection.
According to him, wetlands are far more than waterlogged lands—they recharge groundwater, support agriculture, provide fish and fertile soil, regulate floods, and shelter countless animal and plant species. In Nigeria, wetlands such as the Niger Delta, Hadejia-Nguru, Apoi Creek, Lake Chad, and Baturiya Wetlands are lifelines for communities and biodiversity alike.
Onoja revealed that at COP15, Nigeria played a key role in several landmark decisions, including the establishment of the Waterbird Estimate Partnership—a global network that will coordinate the counting of migratory waterbirds. Nigeria, part of the East Atlantic Flyway, will be central to this initiative, and the first global count is slated for 2027.
He disclosed that the Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention, Dr. Musonda Mumba, has urged Nigeria to intensify its commitments and plans to visit the country soon as six new Ramsar sites are being considered for designation.
On the connection between climate change and wetland loss, Onoja warned that rising temperatures and erratic rainfall were destroying wetlands across Africa. He pointed to Lake Chad’s dramatic shrinkage—over 95 percent of its original size gone—as a grim reminder of what could happen elsewhere if urgent action is not taken.
Onoja emphasized that youths must be part of the solution. The “Youths for Wetlands” coalition, which Nigeria joined at the conference, encourages young people to take an active role in conservation through research, innovation, and community awareness.
He also underscored the importance of traditional knowledge, saying that indigenous communities have managed these ecosystems sustainably for centuries and their insights remain key to future conservation success.
Onoja urged policymakers to match words with action by enforcing environmental laws and supporting wetland protection projects nationwide. He reminded Nigerians that safeguarding wetlands is not only about protecting nature but ensuring survival.
“Wetlands are our lifeline,” he said. “If we fail to protect them, they will fail to protect us. We must act now, not just for ourselves, but for the generations coming after us.”
