The Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP) has disclosed that over 4000 hectares of mangroves had been destroyed by decades of oil spills in the Ogoni area of the Niger Delta alone.

HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, made the revelation in a statement while Commemorating the annual World Wetlands Day, tagged: Wetlands and Human Well-being.

Zabbey who emphasised that wetlands face numerous threats, including urbanization, reclamation for social projects, plastic, and crude oil pollution, deforestation, dredging, and the impact of climate change, added the degradation poses risks to biodiversity and compromises the well-being of communities that depend on wetlands for survival.

“Despite their invaluable contributions, wetlands face numerous threats, including urbanization, reclamation for social projects, plastic and crude oil pollution, deforestation, dredging, and the impact of climate change,” Zabbey said. “For instance, over 4000 hectares of mangroves have been destroyed by decades of oil spills in the Ogoni area of the Niger Delta alone.

“This has exacerbated poverty, as traditional livelihoods dependent on healthy mangroves are destroyed.”

He, however, stated that the HYPREP had taken on the bold responsibility of restoring hectares of shoreline and mangrove’s ecosystems in the Ogoni area of the Niger Delta, degraded by man-influenced activities.

According to him, HYPREP had undertaken a Preliminary Shoreline Clean-up Assessment of over 3000 ha of shoreline, it has conducted a chemical characterization of oil levels in the sediment and delineated the 3000 ha of the assessed shoreline into 833 grids.

Zabbey called all stakeholders to synergise in implementing sustainable practices that would protect and restore these vital ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations, reassuring HYPREP’s commitment to raising awareness about the significance of wetlands and advocating for its protection.

He said: “We call upon the government at all levels, civil society, businesses, communities, and the public to join hands in preserving these critical ecosystems. Our collective efforts can contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly those related to clean water and life on land and underwater, as well as climate action.

“This World Wetlands Day, HYPREP encourages individuals and communities to engage in activities that promote wetland conservation, such as clean-up drives, educational programmes, and tree-planting initiatives.

“By working together, we can ensure that wetlands continue to thrive for the benefit of current and future generations. We therefore urge you to appreciate the beauty and importance of wetlands and pledge to be stewards of these vital ecosystems.” (The Guardian)