TCEBCEM Sets Pace for Land Restoration in Celebration of World Environment Day

The TETFund Centre for Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation & Ecosystem Management (TCEBCEM) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has walked the talk by hosting an insightful seminar and tree-planting event in commemoration of World Environment Day.

The event which was held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, featured a keynote speech by Professor Ronke Yemisi Aderinboye of the Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s edition of the World Environment Day, which is: Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience, Professor Aderinboye started by defining what land restoration is all about and elaborated on the common causes of desertification.

Averring that every cause has an effect, Professor Aderinboye highlighted the effects of desertification, noting that one of the lasting solutions is land restoration. She enumerated the five (5) different techniques of land restoration that can address issues of desertification and drought.

These techniques are:

• Reforestation and Afforestation
• Improving soil health
• Water harvesting and management
• Provision of cover
• Building resilience to drought

Professor Aderinboye went on to expatiate five out of the numerous benefits of land restoration as a solution for mitigating desertification. According to her, key observations for land restoration are:

1. There’s a need to finance and scale up this tried and tested process of restoring land lost to desertification.
2. The community should be engaged to take ownership of taking steps to reduce desertification and other problems negatively impacting the environment.
3. Issues of land tenure and governance should be addressed.

The Professor of Ruminant Nutrition ended her presentation by advising researchers from all related disciplines to continuously put in unfettered efforts towards mitigating the effects of desertification.

Earlier while delivering the opening remarks, Professor Khalid Olajide Adekoya who represented the TCEBCEM Director, Professor Bola Oboh, , reminded the gathering of their individual and collective responsibility to ensure that the environment is kept safe and healthy for human life and future generations.

According to him, everyone present is familiar with the challenges of global warming, climate change and land degradation, and it is in line with playing its part to save the environment that TCEBCEM is poised to continuously sensitise everyone to keep a healthy lifestyle for a healthy environment.

Professor Adekoya asserted also, that taking its responsibility seriously, the TCEBCEM would plant trees to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day and would also build capacity by running postgraduate programmes in areas of environmental sustainability and other related fields.

Shortly after this, one of TCEBCEM members who is also the immediate past Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, UNILAG, Professor Alabi Soneye gave an overview of World Environment Day and this year’s theme and laid the groundwork for the guest speaker, Professor Ronke Yemisi Aderinboye.

After the speaker had made her presentation, the pioneer Centre Director for TCEBCEM, who is also the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS, stressed the importance of creating a balance between development, keeping the environment, sustaining development concerning environment and restoring areas affected by man’s unnecessary exploration and other interference.

Referencing the deplorable state of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, he pointed out the need for rapid restoration in the area.

Professor Ogundipe posited that there are several parts of the world where man’s needs have negatively affected the environment. He encouraged researchers not to rest on their oars and devise ways to combat the effects of human impact on the environment.

They say talk is cheap and action speaks louder than words, to walk the talk, members of the TETFund Centre for Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation & Ecosystem Management (TCEBCEM) with the support of the Parks and Gardens Unit of the University planted ten (10) King Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) trees. The King Palm, unlike many palm trees, is a fast grower. It grows 3 feet (1 meter) or more annually and can live up to 150 years.

Beyond planting the trees to commemorate 2024 World Environment Day, the activity was also carried out to reclaim some land behind the Faculty of Science building.

The Director, Training and Research at TCEBCEM, Professor Adebayo Ogunkanmi, while delivering the vote of thanks to close the event, gave voice to other activities of the centre, which include training and mentoring young students to care for the environment. Some of the students were present at the event and participated in the tree-plating activity. Through this, the centre is impacting the next generation on the importance of saving planet Earth.

The World Environment Day, marked annually on June 5, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972.

Author: Nike Ogunshakin
Photographer: Samuel Dosumu
Article Editor: Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem
Photo Editor: Boluwatife

Source: UNILAG