By Esther Olaoluwa |
The possible extinction of the rare Miss Waldron’s red colobus monkey should serve as a warning that West Africa risks losing not only its wildlife but also the natural systems that support food production, clean water, public health and livelihoods, a biodiversity expert has warned.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Professor Edward Wiafe Debrah, raised the concern during a virtual media engagement organised by the West African Journalists for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (WAJESHA).
The engagement, themed “Understanding Biodiversity: Why Nature Matters to Our Future,” focused on the importance of biodiversity and the growing threats to ecosystems across West Africa.
Debrah said biodiversity loss should no longer be treated as an issue limited to environmental conservation, noting that the degradation of natural ecosystems has direct consequences for food security, public health, climate resilience, economic development and the livelihoods of millions of people.
“The issue is for us to act now. Protect nature and secure our future,” he urged.
Disappearing Monkey Reflects Wider Ecological Crisis
Miss Waldron’s red colobus (Procolobus badius waldroni) was once found in parts of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
The monkey has not been conclusively recorded in the wild for decades and is widely considered possibly extinct. Scientists have linked its disappearance mainly to hunting pressure and the destruction of its forest habitat.
The species is regarded as one of Africa’s most threatened primates, with conservation experts noting that the decline of red colobus monkeys can provide an indication of wider problems affecting tropical forest ecosystems.
Debrah said the possible loss of the species should therefore not be viewed simply as the disappearance of one animal.
“It is a reminder of what happens when ecosystems are not adequately protected,” he said.
He explained that species depend on functioning ecosystems for food, shelter and reproduction, while humans also rely on those same ecosystems for resources and services that support everyday life.
“Protecting biodiversity is not simply about preserving wildlife. It is about protecting our food, our health, our economy, our climate and the future of generations yet unborn,” he said.
Biodiversity Supports Food Production, Health
Debrah described biodiversity as “the web of life that sustains our planet,” explaining that it covers the variety of living organisms, genetic diversity within species and the ecosystems in which they exist.
He said forests, wetlands, rivers, oceans and grasslands provide services that communities depend on, from food production and clean water to climate regulation and natural protection against environmental hazards.
For farmers, he said biodiversity supports crop production through pollinators, healthy soils and natural systems that help control pests.
“Without bees and other pollinators, food production declines. Protecting biodiversity means protecting our food, our health and our future,” he said.
He also pointed to the importance of biodiversity to fisheries, forestry, tourism, pharmaceuticals and traditional medicine.
According to Debrah, forests, wetlands and mangroves also contribute to climate resilience by helping to reduce flooding, improve water quality and store carbon.
He said the connection between biodiversity and human wellbeing means that environmental degradation can eventually translate into economic and social challenges for communities.
West Africa’s Natural Resources Under Pressure
Africa remains one of the world’s biodiversity-rich regions, with forests, savannahs, wetlands, mangroves and marine ecosystems supporting communities across the continent.
Debrah said Ghana alone has more than 700 bird species, over 200 mammal species, freshwater and marine ecosystems, medicinal plants and important forest areas, including Kakum, Atiwa and Bia.
However, he warned that these natural resources are facing growing pressure from human activities and environmental changes.
He identified forest destruction, illegal mining, agricultural expansion, pollution, climate change, invasive species, illegal wildlife trade and unsustainable harvesting among the major threats to biodiversity in West Africa.
In Ghana, he said the effects are already visible in forest degradation, polluted rivers, wetland destruction, bushfires, habitat fragmentation, coastal erosion and declining wildlife populations.
“These challenges threaten not only plants and animals but also the communities whose lives depend on these ecosystems,” he said.
The expert stressed that the loss of natural habitats can affect communities that depend on forests, rivers, wetlands and other ecosystems for farming, fishing, water, medicine and other sources of livelihood.
Expert Calls for Stronger Conservation Measures
Debrah called for increased investment in protected areas, community-based conservation, wildlife protection, mangrove restoration, tree planting, sustainable agriculture and responsible ecotourism.
He said conservation efforts should involve government institutions, traditional authorities, local communities, researchers, development partners and the private sector.
He also highlighted the importance of indigenous knowledge and called for greater participation of women and young people in environmental protection.
According to him, protecting biodiversity requires more than establishing protected areas, as conservation efforts must also address the economic realities of communities living close to natural resources.
“It requires strong enforcement of environmental laws, scientific research, education and creating sustainable livelihoods for communities living close to natural resources,” he said.
Debrah said providing sustainable economic opportunities could help reduce pressure on forests and wildlife while allowing communities to participate directly in conservation efforts.
Journalists Urged to Connect Biodiversity to Everyday Life
The biodiversity expert also urged journalists to play a stronger role in helping the public understand the connection between environmental issues and everyday life.
He said environmental reporting should go beyond documenting deforestation, pollution and other forms of environmental damage to explain how biodiversity loss affects food security, public health, climate resilience, livelihoods and economic development.
Debrah encouraged journalists to simplify scientific information without losing accuracy, investigate environmental crimes, challenge misinformation with evidence, amplify the experiences of affected communities and report solutions.
“Good journalism saves biodiversity. Journalists inform, educate, empower and protect biodiversity,” he said.
He added that effective environmental reporting could help communities understand why the protection of natural resources matters to their own wellbeing.
“People protect what they understand,” he said.
He urged individuals to contribute to conservation by planting trees, restoring degraded landscapes, protecting wetlands, reducing plastic pollution, conserving water, supporting sustainable farming and rejecting illegal wildlife products.
He also encouraged members of the public to report environmental crimes and called on governments to strengthen environmental legislation, improve protected area management, invest in scientific research and expand environmental education.
WAJESHA Promotes Evidence-Based Environmental Reporting
The Director of WAJESHA, Engr. Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen, said journalists have a responsibility to help bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding.
He said environmental reporting should show communities how issues such as biodiversity loss connect with agriculture, health, climate resilience and economic development.
“Biodiversity is no longer a subject for scientists alone. It is central to agriculture, health, climate resilience, food security and economic development across West Africa,” he said.
Mohammed-Nurudeen said WAJESHA was creating a platform where journalists could engage directly with scientists and experts to strengthen evidence-based reporting.
“Through WAJESHA, we are creating a platform where journalists engage directly with scientists to strengthen evidence-based reporting that informs policy, empowers communities and supports sustainable development throughout the region,” he added.
He explained that the virtual engagement forms part of WAJESHA’s continuing professional development programme, which connects journalists with scientists and other experts working across biodiversity, climate change, environment, science, health and agriculture.
According to him, the programme is designed to improve journalists’ understanding of complex scientific issues and help them produce accurate and solutions-focused stories that are relevant to communities.
He said WAJESHA would continue to support journalism that moves beyond reporting environmental problems to examining evidence-based solutions and actions that can help protect ecosystems.
Building Stronger Environmental Journalism
WAJESHA is a non-profit journalism project of the Centre for Climate Change & Food Security (CCCFS) focused on strengthening evidence-based journalism on environment, biodiversity, climate change, science, health and agriculture.
Through training, expert engagements and cross-border collaboration, the initiative seeks to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills required to produce accurate and solutions-focused reports that improve public understanding, inform policy and promote sustainable development across West Africa.
The concerns raised during the engagement underscore the wider importance of biodiversity protection, particularly as communities across the region continue to depend on natural ecosystems for food, water, health, livelihoods and economic activity.
For Debrah, the possible disappearance of Miss Waldron’s red colobus is therefore more than a conservation concern. It is a reminder of the consequences of allowing ecosystems to deteriorate and a call for governments, communities, scientists, journalists and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts to protect the natural systems on which future generations depend.
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