…urges global consensus on conservation
World leaders have been charged to back the debate about plant preservation and protection, with action, to sustain life and protect the planet.
Obaseki gave the charge on the occasion of the celebration of the International Plant Conservation Day, celebrated on Friday, May 18 each year.
“The celebration of plant day dovetails with the wisdom behind my administration’s plan to reposition the Edo State Ministry of Environment and its agencies to join the global crusade for a greener earth through aggressive plant cultivation, protection and preservation,” he said.
Obaseki called on Nigerian youths to throw their weight behind the global movement on plant preservation and conservation, explaining that environmental regeneration is one of the pillars of his administration’s development blueprint.
He disclosed that plans were underway to set up botanical gardens in urban areas of the state, where urbanization has reduced the physical space for plants.
“Preserving plants means preserving human life,” he emphasized, assuring that the state government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Edo Development Property Agency (EDPA) will spearhead policies on plant protection; awareness creation; establishment of new gardens and parks as well as stakeholder engagements on the need to preserve plants.
Obaseki advised world leaders who are yet to mainstream environmental protection and preservation in their development plans to do so urgently, as the ubiquitous impacts of climate change go beyond national boundaries.
Plant Conservation Day was started in 2001 by the Association of Zoological Horticulture (AZH), and has been actively celebrated by zoos throughout the United States and is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and conserving plants for people and the planet.
According to AZH, in 2006, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) partnered with it to help expand Plant Conservation Day celebrations to botanic gardens and develop resources to make celebrating easy and fun for any organisation, group, or individual interested in conserving the world’s plants.
It added that in 2008, Plant Conservation Day celebrations were held around the United States of America and in Europe. In 2009, funding from the Boeing Company allowed BGCI and AZH to work with their membership networks and partners around the world to hold celebrations in more countries and to involve many thousands more people.
