COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 2022 WORLD WETLANDS DAY SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED BY THE CENTRE FOR WETLANDS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT STUDIES HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UYO MULTIPURPOSE HALL, MAIN CAMPUS, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA ON THE 2^ND OF FEBRUARY 2022 BY 10.00AM PROMPT AS PRESENTED BY DR. UBONG UMOH (DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL STUDIES)

THEME: WETLANDS ACTION FOR MAN AND NATURE

Preamble

The 2022 World Wetlands Day with the theme “Wetlands Action for Man and Nature” organized by the Centre for Wetlands and Waste Management Studies, University of Uyo, Nigeria was held on February 2, 2022 at the Multipurpose Hall of the University of Uyo. Over 200 participants and 4 Speakers drawn from the academia, Government and industry, gathered between 10.00am and 3.00pm to deepen discussions on the theme.

Wetlands are areas that water cover the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. 

Observations

From the various lectures, syndicate interactions and exhaustive deliberations, it was observed as follows:

1. Wetlands are the kidneys of the world lands and therefore, central to climate change mitigation.
2. Wetlands have economic, cultural, tourist, medical, social, and security importance.
3. Wetlands and their natural products are fast disappearing due to human exploitative and development activities.
4. Previous attempts at saving the wetlands appear to lack enforcement, especially in local communities.

Resolutions

In the light of the above observations, it was resolved as follows:

1. It is urgently necessary for the Government (Federal, State and Local) to adopt and implement a separate national wetland management policy (homegrown).
2. There is need to develop home-grown programs covering wetland inventory, monitoring, research, training, education and public awareness.
3. There is need to develop integrated management plans at wetland sites – site specific wetland management.
4. More Ramsar sites in Nigeria should be identified, gazetted and protected.
5. Policies and actions directed at saving existing wetlands and regenerating degraded ones should be enforced.
6. The indulgence of women in wetland management and reclamation should be deepened.
7. The academia, civil society and industry should deepen empirical and data driven researches into wetlands and its biodiversity.

Conclusion

The Participants and Paper Presenters at the 2022 World Wetlands Day expressed appreciation to the Chief Host, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Nyaudoh U. Ndaeyo, and his Management Team; the Special Guest – the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals – Mr. Charles Udoh and the Keynote Speaker – Professor Trenchard Ibia, and the Chairperson of the event – Professor Comfort Etok, for the show of support and facilitation.