Principal Investigator for the GBIF-BID Project on “Expanding the visibility of the Lagos Herbarium through Digitization and Mobilization of Plant Specimen Data”, Dr. Temitope Onuminya says about fifteen thousand (15,000) Plant Specimen Data was mobilized during the exercise.
Speaking at the “End of Project Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting” held at the Faculty of Science Boardroom, Dr. Onuminya who shared key achievements of the Project said a User-Friendly Electronic Identification key was developed for easy identification of plant species.
The project, according to Dr. Onuminya, also provided insights into the Spatiotemporal distribution of plant species for improved conservation schemes and promoted data sharing and collaboration among partner institutions.
As part of the recommendations, Dr. Onuminya advocated a review and update of extant regulations and guidelines in Lagos State to adequately protect the flora and fauna in the state.
She solicited a stakeholder advocacy campaign to encourage better use of wetlands and forested areas to ensure their sustainability.
Dr. Onuminya also called for public-private and institutional partnerships in implementing conservation targets that will reduce biodiversity loss and promote sustainability.
In separate remarks, Professor Liasu Ogunkamni, who spoke on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, and the Dean, Faculty of Science, Prof Elijah Oyeyemi alongside Dr. Akeem Kadiri who represented the Head of the Department of Botany, Dr. Omobolanle Ade-Ademilua showered encomia on the Principal Investigator for the commitment and successful completion of the project despite the challenges.
While appreciating all funding agencies and partners, Prof. Ogunkanmi and Dr. Kadiri said through the project, the UNILAG Herbarium has become fully digitized and more visible thereby making the Department of Botany a force to reckon with in the field of Plant Sciences.
Contributors who appraised the project included delegates from partnering institutions and students. They commended the Principal Investigator for her commitment to the project, for maintaining standards and for the quality outcomes.
They adjudged the project an eye-opener and advocated more concerted efforts toward promoting plant conservation, especially at the grassroots.
Tagged: “Expanding the visibility of the Lagos Herbarium through Digitization and Mobilization of Plant Specimen Data”, the project which commenced in April 2021 aimed to digitize and publish information from preserved vascular plant collections as well as associated metadata and images at the University of Lagos Herbarium to ensure access for conservation assessments, policy-making and stakeholder use.
It was funded to the tune of €18,850 through the Institution-Level biodiversity data mobilization grants by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)-Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) and the European Union.
Partners in the project included the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) and the Lagos State University (LASU), among several others.
