UNESCO has committed to continued support for the Ogun government on biodiversity businesses for sustainable livelihoods and conservation of the state’s biosphere reserve.

Jean-Paul Abiaga, UNESCO’s representative in Nigeria, made the commitment during a courtesy visit to the secretary to the state government, Tokunbo Talabi.

Mr Abiaga said the visit was to brief the state government on UNESCO’s ongoing project in the state, to express appreciation for the support received, and to strengthen collaboration between Ogun and UNESCO.

He said that UNESCO had received $1 million from the India-UN Partnership Fund to implement the Biodiversity Business Project in three sites across Nigeria. The sites included Oban Biosphere Reserve in Cross River State, Omo Biosphere Reserve in Ogun, and Shere Hills Forest Reserve in Plateau State.

“The objective of the project is to support youth, women, and local communities to develop biodiversity-related businesses. We have selected ten communities in the Omo Biosphere Reserve for training in piggery and fish farming biodiversity businesses.

“The goal is to help them create alternative sources of livelihood that generate income while protecting the environment,” he said.

Mr Abiaga also said the initiative aligned with UNESCO’s global priority to create a balance between biodiversity protection and sustainable livelihoods.

“This project combines environmental protection with income generation, which supports the UN target of protecting 30 per cent of global biodiversity on land and sea,” he said.

He said UNESCO hoped to scale up the project and continue collaborating with the government and private sector, who share the same interest. Mr Talabi described biodiversity conservation as a means to achieve sustainable development.

“We are considering setting up a task force to protect the green life of the Omo Biosphere Reserve. We want people to live off the land without denigrating it; we are also planting trees, but all is not well with that area,” he said.

Mr Talabi commended UNESCO for supporting local communities and urged that the project be expanded to reach more areas in the state. He further said that such programmes could help reduce rural-urban migration.

“We already have forest guards deployed across the state. We are open to partnering with any agency that brings value to the system. Any methodology you are using that can reduce poverty and protect the environment, we are ready to adopt it,” he said.

The commissioner for forestry, Oludotun Taiwo, said the programme aligned with the Ogun government’s agenda for forest conservation and poverty alleviation.

“This initiative will help divert attention from indiscriminate tree felling, reduce carbon emissions, and create new livelihoods, and we are ready to collaborate for its success,” he said.

The highlight of the visit was the presentation of the UNESCO Science Report and other souvenirs to the SSG.

 (NAN)