International Day of Biological Diversity :The Time For Action Is Now – EPA Boss
Dr. Kingsley Krugu, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), On the occasion of the 2024 International Day of Biological Diversity celebration said the time for action is now.
Ghana, like the rest of the world, is facing a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The country’s once-lush forests have dwindled from approximately 145,000 square kilometers to a mere 15,000 square kilometers, largely due to uncontrolled human activities and over-exploitation of resources. The economic cost of environmental degradation is staggering, with Ghana losing an estimated USD 54 billion annually.
Dr. Krugu emphasized that collaborative action is necessary to restore harmony with nature and transition to sustainable socio-economic systems. He highlighted various government initiatives, such as the Green Ghana Initiative and the REDD+ program, aimed at reducing the impact of environmental degradation. However, he noted that more needs to be done to mainstream biodiversity conservation into sector plans and engage all stakeholders in the development of activities.
The EPA has been working to regulate pollution and sustainably manage biodiversity through various projects, including the Ghana Landscape and Small-Scale Mining Project, the Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Project, and the Gold Plus project. Nevertheless, Dr. Krugu acknowledged that the expected outcomes have yet to be realized.
He urged all stakeholders, including local authorities, NGOs, lawmakers, businesses, and individuals, to join forces to protect Ghana’s environment. Dr. Krugu stressed that adopting a Whole of Government and Whole of Society Approach is crucial to create enabling conditions for policy implementation and ensure biodiversity conservation is mainstreamed into public and private decision-making.
Dr. Krugu’s words is serving as a call to action to protect Ghana’s precious environment for future generations. The time to act is now, and collective effort is necessary to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, ensuring a sustainable future for all.
