The Wildlife Management Society of Nigeria (WIMSON) has revealed that the country loses over $10 billion annually through poor management of wildlife protected areas in the country.
A lecturer in the Department of Forestry, University of Uyo and Business Manager of the society, Dr. Edem Eniang, said on Thursday in Uyo that the federal government could generate over $10 billion if the sector was properly harnessed.
He said: “The country has seven protected areas of global status, but we don’t generate much from that sector. We have observed that the volume of illegal wildlife trade in the country is on the increase, denying the country billions of dollars yearly.”
Eniang lamented that tourism potentials in the country protected areas were yet to be fully harnessed and protected area policy was largely outdated and requiring proper review.
The manager who disclosed that the economy of Kenya and South Africa were sustained from wildlife conservation and tourism regretted that inadequate funding, poor staff commitment and corruption had hindered proper functioning of protected areas in Nigeria.
He appealed to all tiers of government to exhibit political will and implement wildlife conservation policy in the country while assuring that WIMSON would ensure that global best practices were applied in all dimension of it captive management.
According to him non-existence of clear cut boundaries in protected areas in Nigeria were major causes of conflicts around them.
However, Eniang said the conference held at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which attracted experts and professionals had formally launched Wildlife Management Society of Nigeria (WIMSON) to assist government in wildlife conservation.
He said Professor Ibokun Ayodele and Professor Pius Egwumah were elected president and vice president respectively while Dr. Omotola Jayeola emerged the association’s secretary.
