Nigerian forestry, wildlife and protected areas: Status report

Abstract

The paper examines the Nigerian National policy on Wildlife, Forestry and Protected Areas. Though conservation efforts have a long history in the country, achievements are not encouraging. The implementation of the policy has not achieved the desired result of properly conserving the country's biodiversity; a variety of plants and animals in the country are seriously threatened today. Massive deforestation, desertification and large-scale erosion continue in various parts of the country. Various problems have been identified as obstacles to effective conservation in the country. These include the problems of inadequate data on the status of biodiversity, uncoordinated land-use policy and inadequate allocation of funds and manpower. There is also the problem of the high rate of rural and urban poverty in the country, which makes enforcement difficult. Various measures are suggested to promote better environmental forestry and wildlife conservation. These include improving the legal frameworks for conservation management in the country and expanding research into forest biology and economics. Other solutions proffered are the provision of basic education on conservation for the general population and the proper funding of protected areas and conservation programmes in the country.