Potential Threats and Possible Conservation Strategies of Biodiversity in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

While much of the biodiversity of the Niger Delta is utilized as food and medicine, the region has continuously been regarded as a biodiversity hub in Africa because of its native population of diverse endemic marine and terrestrial species. This study sets forth to highlight the status of eco-diversity and their uses, some of the anthropogenic activities that are prominent across the Niger Delta region, while stating the likely ways of protecting endemic species that are native to the environment. Some of the leading factors responsible for the rapid decline in biodiversity population are the incessant episodes of flood rising from overflowing sea levels, intensive agricultural practices of seasonal bush burning, deforestation and wood lumbering, open grazing, infrastructural development, and chief among them is crude oil spillage. While the abundance of mineral resources (mainly crude oil and gas deposits) in the Niger Delta region has been responsible for its rapid industrialization, regional population expansion has continued to increase the demand for infrastructural developments such as airports, market places, industries, roads construction, among others. This in turn has led to the unabated release of several organic and inorganic pollutants into the environment, hence resulting in the exploitative utilization and destruction of forest assets. Consequently, this has led to the spatiotemporal decimation of various life forms and constant alteration in the biodiversity status of the region. The study concludes by highlighting some of the possible strategies for restoring the diversity status of the Niger Delta region which include waste minimization, reuse, or recycling, public sensitization, enforcement of existing environmental laws and legislation, and adoption of new laws in line with current global best practices.