NAN-H-23
Bird
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, May 10, 2017(NAN) As countries worldwide mark the World Migratory Bird Day, an environmentalist, Mr Desmond Majekodunmi has called for the protection of migratory birds along their routes to Africa and other continents.
Majekodunmi, a former board member of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
The theme for the 2017 World Migratory Bird Day is: “Their Future Our Future’’.
A website www.timeanddate.com says, “ World Migratory Bird Day is a two-day event annually held on the second weekend of May to highlight the need to protect migratory birds and their habitats.
“It is also intended to help turn the world’s attention to the wonders of bird migration and the need for their conservation.
“The 2017 campaign is aimed at raising awareness on the need for a sustainable management of our natural resources.
“It also demonstrates that the conservation of birds is also crucial for the future of humankind,’’ it says.
Majekodunmi said that the population of migratory birds was fast diminishing because of the dangers along their routes.
“The migratory birds such as waterbirds, landbirds or raptors need our protection as many of them are dying before they reach their destinations.
“These birds should be respected as they fly across the continents and half way around the world yearly.
“They also return to the same tree where they took off from in Europe.
“Some of the birds stop over at Hadeja-Nguru Wetlands in Yobe and stay there for some weeks before flying all the way to South Africa,’’ he said.
“The reality is that the birds have a role to play in nature and are part of the web of lives which is supporting us and our children.
“The challenges are that when the birds get to where they used to rest, drink water and eat food, the places are already destroyed by human activities.
“It is inhuman to allow certain bird species to go into extinction through the actions of mankind.
“This calls for urgent need to protect these birds and our habitats.’’
NAN reports that there are many migration patterns and majority of birds migrate from northern breeding areas to southern wintering grounds.
However, some birds breed in southern parts of Africa and migrate to northern wintering grounds or along lines of latitude to enjoy the milder coastal climates in winter.
Other birds reside in lowlands during the winter months and move to higher altitudes for the summer.
Migration is a perilous journey and exposes the animals to a wide range of threats, often caused by human activities.
Flying long distances involve crossing many borders between countries with differing environmental policies, legislation and conservation measures.
International cooperation among governments, NGOs and other stakeholders is required along the entire flyway of species to ensure that knowledge is shared and conservation efforts coordinated.
The legal framework and coordinating instruments necessary for such cooperation is provided by multilateral environmental agreements such as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA). (NAN)
ACA/VIV/PDE
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(Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Peter Ejiofor)