We must protect our wildlife

March 3, 2022, is being observed worldwide as World Wildlife Day (WWD). The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly at its 68th session on December 20, 2013.

The WWD aims at celebrating and raising awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants, with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat designated as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife.

This year’s observance is on the theme: “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”, which seeks to draw attention to the conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species of wild animals and plants and drive discussions towards imagining and implementing solutions to conserve them.

The Daily Graphic notes the inter-relationship between flora and fauna. Plants and animals are essential for human existence, as plants liberate oxygen, which is used by animals, including human beings, for respiratory activities, while animals, in turn, give out carbon dioxide, which is used by plants in the process of photosynthesis.

Among their many uses, plants and animals contribute to local economies by way of their exploitation for tourism and as raw materials to produce goods.

But natural resource consumption rates through human activities such as unsustainable hunting, fishing, logging or gathering of wild populations, have exerted tremendous pressure on plants and animals, leading to their commercial, ecological or global extinction.

According to data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered, while close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable, with an estimated one million species threatened with extinction.

In Ghana, data suggests that, currently, at least 221 plant and animal species are endangered.

That is the reason the Daily Graphic considers the theme for this year’s WWD celebration appropriate. In spite of the alarming data, we commend ourselves as a country for being proactive in ensuring that we protect our flora and fauna. Just recently, the exploitation and exportation of Rosewood was banned. And in 2021, the citizenry enthusiastically embraced President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s initiative to plant more trees to replenish our flora and, consequently, protect our fauna.

The enthusiasm shown was so massive that the target of five million trees was exceeded. And last Tuesday, the President launched this year’s Green Ghana Day, scheduled for Friday, June 10, to enable Ghanaians to come together to plant more trees and nurture them. This time, the target is to plant 20 million trees.

We believe that come June 10, citizens will display the same passion so that we exceed the 20 million target too.

We need no reminder that continued loss of species, habitats and ecosystems threatens all life on earth, as people everywhere rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet their needs and for their livelihoods.

As WWD is marked, therefore, we encourage the media, environmental-based NGOs and individual environmentalists, civil society and corporate Ghana to help drive the debate towards the imperative need to reverse the fate of the most critically endangered species, support the restoration of their habitats and ecosystems and promote their sustainable use by humanity.

We also want to see the Department of Wildlife and the Wildlife Society intensify education on endangered species in the country, so that in their own small ways citizens can play their part to protect these species.

Humans are inextricably linked to the environment, as we depend completely on flora and fauna for essential, life-sustaining services, for which reason everything must be done to protect the ecosystem.