A renowned conservation biologist, Prof. Excellence Akeredolu, has tasked the federal government on policies against unregulated mining of mineral resources in the country.

Mr Akeredolu said this at an event organised by the federal ministry of environment, Lagos Zonal office, on Wednesday in Lagos to commemorate World Environment Day.

He enjoined the federal government to tighten policies against unregulated mining of mineral resources, open grazing, unsustainable agricultural practices, and deforestation to ensure economic growth.

He explained that these policies, if not tightened, could undermine the nation’s efforts at actualising the global mandate to restore degraded ecosystems and halt desertification.

In his lecture, “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience,” he observed that the environment had been hugely degraded, affecting lives and livelihoods.

“Following unregulated human activities like unsustainable agricultural practices, open grazing and mining, the environment has been hugely degraded with attendant consequences of lacking the ability to support lives and livelihoods,” he said.

He added that in line with the United Nations Decade of ecosystem restoration, the nation should adopt sustainable agricultural practices, conserve forests and massively plant trees, amongst others.

The expert, who stressed the need to prioritise land restoration and combat desertification, said everyone must get involved to sustainably protect and conserve the nation’s environment.

The federal controller, ministry of environment and zonal director, South-West, Margaret Akinyemi, in her address, called on every  Nigerian to plant at least a tree.

Ms Akinyemi said this would be in support of the government’s 50 million trees target towards achieving the goal of this year’s World Environment Day celebration.

She said that the ministry had committed itself to planting 50 million trees within the next five years.

Ms Akinyemi said that this year’s event, the 52nd edition, emphasised the land as the determinant of the future and must be protected at all costs.

According to her, land across the globe is under threat of diverse disasters, including desertification, land degradation, pollution, and drought.

She added that all hands must be on deck in tackling them.

Ms Akinyemi identified tree planting as the most sustainable strategy for tackling most environmental issues.

The event was attended by pupils and students from schools in Lagos, who made presentations to further convey the message of the event.

The high point of the event was the distribution of tree seedlings to all the participants to inculcate in them the culture of tree planting.

(NAN)