BEVERLY HILLS, June 05, (THEWILL) – As the official launch of UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a 10-year push to halt and reverse the decline of the natural world as part of activities to mark World Environment Day, Chairman, Travel Writers’ Corps of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Bayelsa State Council, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, has advised governors of the South-South states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers.
Kiyaramo counselled them to float what he called “Green Bonds” and adopt green infrastructural development strategies to support identified environmentally sustainable initiatives in addition to creating urban green spaces in capital towns.
He said creating urban green spaces such as domestic gardens, parks and woodlands, would provide multitude benefits to urban residents as well as provide conducive environment for wildlife habitats.
According to him, the presence of green spaces in cities could enhance the health and wellbeing of people living and working in such cities, improve their physical fitness and reduce depression.
He reiterated that ecological restoration of disturbed lands should be an important approach to sensitive urban ecotourism planning, informing that tourism is a sub-component of sustainable development.
According to him, ecotourism remained an effective tool for sustainable development, noting that: “That is the main reason why developing countries are now embracing ecotourism and incorporating it as part of their economic development and conservation strategies.”
The travel journalist maintained that ecotourism had proven to be a strong force in the field of ecosystem restoration efforts, adding that incorporating it as part of urban regeneration scheme will would go a long way in enhancing the tourism offerings of cities in the south south region.
Mr. Kiyaramo, who gave the advice while speaking with travel writers on the significance of this year’s World Environment Day, with the theme: “Ecosystem Restoration,” in Yenagoa, noted that: “While cities may offer great challenge to sustain fish and wildlife species and habitats under developed conditions, bustling with human activities, they also provide a great opportunity to engage residents with nature and contribute to larger-scale conservation needs.”
He described green bond as a type of fixed-income instrument that is specifically earmarked to raise money for environmentally sustainable projects, informing that green bonds would provide investors with opportunity to directly support environmentally sustainable initiatives, such as tree planting, protecting landscapes, lakes and urban regeneration.
Kiyaramo, who also doubles as interim South-South Coordinator of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) and Vice Chairman of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) South-South region, said the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aimed at preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean, noting that ecosystems restoration could help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent a mass extinction species.
While urging the governors to give effect to the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration through enactment of appropriate environmental policies, he equally appealed to all and sundry to take part in tree planting, stressing that the ecosystems restoration drive would only succeed if everyone played a part by conserving the ecosystems that are still intact.
He maintained that as urban sustainable ecotourism initiatives cut across multiple industries, including recreation, transportation, organic food supplies, as well as tourism, there was urgent need for cities to focus on tourists’ desire for ecotourism-type experiences within urban centres.
