The Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), has launched the National Vulture Conservation Action Plan (NVCAP) to address the alarming decline of vulture populations in Nigeria.
The plan aims to reverse the trend through coordinated policy, research, and community-based action.
The Director of Forestry, Federal Department of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr Moses Ama, said vultures are crucial scavengers in the ecosystem, playing a vital role in preventing the spread of deadly diseases by disposing of animal carcasses efficiently.
He noted that six vulture species in Nigeria, including the Hooded Vulture and White-backed Vulture, are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Ama spoke recently in Lagos at the two-day workshop on ‘Reducing the Demand for Vultures in Traditional Medicine Practices in Nigeria’.
Ama, who was represented by the ministry’s Deputy Director in the Department of Forestry, Bosede Olukanni, said, ‘Nigeria is blessed with a rich array of wildlife species, each contributing to the delicate ecological balance that sustains life. Among these, vultures hold a unique and irreplaceable role as nature’s clean-up agents, preventing the spread of deadly diseases through the efficient disposal of animal carcasses.
‘Six of our vulture species are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, including the Hooded Vulture and White-backed Vulture. This disturbing trend not only threatens biodiversity but poses serious public health risks and undermines our international conservation commitments’.
The Director-General of NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, emphasised the importance of protecting the ecosystem, noting that humans are at the top of the pyramid’.
‘All of these things that nature has provided are for our benefit at the end of the day.
‘There is a need for us to protect the ecosystem from collapsing. If that ecosystem collapses, because we are at the top, our fall will be higher, and it will be more painful. That is why we need to be concerned about what is happening to our species, especially the vultures’.
The NVCAP is a crucial step towards protecting Nigeria’s vultures and maintaining the balance of ecosystems. The plan will focus on education and awareness campaigns, strengthening legal protections, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the long-term conservation of vultures in Nigeria.
Key components of NVCAP include nationwide awareness campaigns to educate and sensitise people about the importance of vultures and the threats they face. The Endangered Species Protection and Conservation Bill 2024 will strengthen the legal framework by providing tougher penalties and modern tools to combat wildlife crimes, including the illegal vulture trade.
There is also a call for multi-stakeholder collaboration. This is through partnerships with law enforcement agencies, NGOs, traditional institutions, and international bodies to ensure a whole-of-society approach to vulture conservation.
