National Park Service's Goni Addresses Forest Depletion

The Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Goni, expressed alarm over the depletion of Nigeria's forest resources during a meeting with the Environmental Media Correspondents Association of Nigeria, led by Mrs. Joycelyn Ellakeche Adah, in Abuja. He identified illegal logging, hunting, mining, insecurity, kidnapping, and banditry as significant threats to forests and protected areas, warning that these activities exacerbate environmental degradation and desertification.

Goni called for stronger collaboration with environmental journalists to raise public awareness and improve conservation reporting. He noted that Nigeria has 17 national parks, with 13 operational, following the establishment of 10 additional parks before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

Goni highlighted the challenges posed by insecurity, illegal mining operations, and wildlife trafficking, mentioning successful operations with the Nigerian Army that closed mining sites in Gashaka-Gumti National Park and dislodged over 4,000 miners. He urged for alternative livelihoods to mitigate socioeconomic impacts and emphasized the importance of public awareness on environmental issues.