Journal of Molluscan Research, (JMR) Volume 9, 2022
* Alexander B. Odaibo (KEYNOTE ADDRESS )
PREAMBLE
There are global challenges to sustainable development; the world is faced with natural resource depletion and adverse impacts of environmental degradation, including desertification, drought, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity (Carr et al., 2013). And according to the UN, biodiversity offers solution to these threats, it is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, that have better and more sustainable future for all. The theme of this year’s International Biodiversity Day 2022 is “Building a Shared Future for all life”, which highlights biodiversity as the foundation upon which we can ‘build back better’. As a contribution to the global efforts to conserve and restore our biodiversity, I chose a topic that would enable me to address a subject matter that has been of concern to me – “Threats to the species diversity and sustainable use of edible land snails in Nigeria”.
These poorly understood invertebrates in Nigeria deserve better attention of malacologists and scientists, given their important roles in folk medicine and as sources of protein and revenue for our rural populations. The paper provides an overview of edible land snails, and some information on current and emerging threats to the malacofaunal diversity in Nigeria. It is my hope that this address will incite scientists and malacologists at this conference to begin to appreciate and conduct studies that will generate new knowledge that will enhance the conservation of the diversity of our
endemic mollusc species in Nigeria.
