Assessing Nigeria's Efforts in Biodiversity Conservation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14950275Keywords:
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystem, SpeciesAbstract
This paper titled, ‘Assessing Nigeria's Efforts in Biodiversity Conservation’, categorically reviews the initiatives of Nigeria in conserving its biodiversity over the past years. This paper aims to examine the conservation strategies, policies, and frameworks that have been instituted towards the conservation of biodiversity in the country to determine their effectiveness in achieving conservation objectives and also proffer feasible recommendations for enhancing these conservation efforts. To achieve the aim of this research, the study adopted the desk research design. Thus, using secondary data, the paper explores biodiversity conservation in Nigeria in all its dimensions. To that extent, it reviewed existing research works and other secondary data sources such as news reports, government releases, journals, and academic books to reveal that even though biodiversity conservation in Nigeria is a tremendous success, it is still being significantly impacted by some challenges. These conservation challenges highlighted within the study include environmental, socioeconomic, institutional, and even political obstacles. Therefore, the study recommends that to address these difficulties and enhance the biodiversity conservation efforts and outcomes within Nigeria, greater community participation in conservation initiatives should be encouraged, sustainable funding for conservation should be ensured and the capacity of Nigeria’s institutional frameworks should be strengthened.
References
Abdulaziz, H. (2017). Incorporating collaboration and motivation for effective management of protected areas in Nigeria (Doctoral dissertation). Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Adegoroye, A., Samuel, A., Oladosu, O., & Oloruntoba, E. (2024). Assessment of nature reserve park management for sustainable development: Insights from Idanre Hills in Ondo State Southwest, Nigeria. International Journal of Advance Social Sciences and Education (IJASSE), 2(2), 109–128. https://doi.org/10.59890/ijasse.v2i2.1531
Adewale, R. O., & Alarape, A. A. (2020). Appraisal of natural saltlicks management of Old Oyo National Park for wildlife and ecotourism: A baseline study. NIU Journal of Humanities, 5(3), 109–118.
Adeyanju, S. O., Bulkan, J., Onyekwelu, J. C., St-Laurent, G., Kozak, R., Sunderland, T., & Stimm, B. (2022). Drivers of biodiversity conservation in sacred groves: A comparative study of three sacred groves in southwest Nigeria. International Journal of the Commons, 16(1), 94–107. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijc.1143
Adjeketa, B., Shireku, A., & Obado, O. (2024). Indigenous festivals as a tool for forest preservation and cultural revival in Nigeria. Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n1.07
Ado, A. S. (2022). An overview of British colonial forest conservation in Northern Nigeria. Lapai Journal of Humanities, 13(1), 144–162.
Aju, P. C., & Ezeibekwe, I. O. (2010). Understanding and appreciating the need for biodiversity conservation in Nigeria. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 4(24), 2605–2608
Altiparmak, S. O. (2022). An analysis of Nigeria’s biodiversity governance: Policies, institutions and challenges. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 41–67.
Anwadike, B. C. (2020). Biodiversity conservation in Nigeria: Perception, challenges and possible remedies. Current Investigations in Agriculture and Current Research, 8(4), 1109–1115.
Audu, H., & Ayuba, G. M. (2016). Biodiversity conservation in Nigeria: Contemporary challenges for ecologists. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, 18(1), 331.
Digun-Aweto, O., Merwe, P., & Saayman, M. (2022). Tolerance factors in human-wildlife conflicts in protected areas: The case of Cross River National Park, Cross River State Nigeria. GeoJournal, 87(1), 349–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10254-9
Etemire, U., & Sobere, N. U. (2020). Improving public compliance with modern environmental laws in Nigeria: Looking to traditional African norms and practices. Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 38(3), 305–327. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2020.1751970
Federal Ministry of Environment. (2015). National biodiversity strategy and action plan 2016-2020. https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/ng/ng-nbsap
Food and Agriculture Organisation. (2015). Wildlife Conservation Act. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/
Gasu, M. B., Gasu, G. N., & Ntemuse, U. E. (2021). A review of biodiversity loss and climate change: Policy measures and adaptation strategies in Nigeria. Malaysian Journal of Tropical Geography (MJTG), 47(1&2), 100–122.
Imarhiagbe, O., Egboduku, W. O., & Nwankwo, B. (2020). A review of the biodiversity conservation status of Nigeria. Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity, 4(1), 73–83.
Isife, C. T. (2012). Environmental problems in Nigeria: A review. Sustainable Human Development Review, 4(1&2), 1–6.
Israel, O. O., & Olujide, O. (2023). Biodiversity conservation and rural development: Inseparable options for protected area management. A case study of four Nigerian National Parks. Nature Conservation Research, 8(1), 84–95.
Izah, S. C., & Aigberua, A. O. (2023). Potential threats and possible conservation strategies of biodiversity in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. In Sustainable Utilisation and Conservation of Africa’s Biological Resources and Environment (pp. 151–176). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6974-4_6
Mohammed, U. (2022). Ecotourism in Nigeria, challenges and prospects: A review. Gadau Journal of Pure and Allied Sciences, 1(1), 12–17. https://doi.org/10.54117/gjpas.v1i1.3
NCF Nigeria. (n.d.). Species in peril programme. https://ncfnigeria.org/species/
NESREA. (n.d.). Laws and regulations. https://www.nesrea.gov.ng/publications-downloads/laws-regulations/
Ogunniyi, D., & Azeta, A. (2024). Assessing biodiversity loss and the challenge of implementing nature conservation laws in Africa. African Journal of Legal Studies, 16(2), 79–105.
Ogwu, M. C., Izah, S. C., & Iyiola, A. O. (2022). An overview of the potentials, threats, and conservation of biodiversity in Africa. In Biodiversity in Africa: Potential, Threats, and Conservation (pp. 3–20). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3326-4_1
Olalekan, R. M., Omidiji, A. O., Williams, E. A., Christianah, M. B., & Modupe, O. (2019). The roles of all tiers of government and development partners in environmental conservation of natural resources: A case study in Nigeria. MOJ Ecology & Environmental Sciences, 4(3), 114–121. https://doi.org/10.15406/mojes.2019.04.00142
Olawuyi, D. S., & Olusegun, O. O. (2018). Achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals on biological diversity in Nigeria: Current issues and future directions. Global Journal of Comparative Law, 7(1), 37–60. https://doi.org/10.1163/2211906X-00701003
Olorunnipa, T. A., Adisa-Ibojo, O. I., & Adetoye, F. A. (2024). Convention on biological diversity and the Nagoya Protocol: Protection of traditional knowledge in Nigeria. AGORA International Journal of Juridical Science, 18, 75–81. https://doi.org/10.15837/aijjs.v18i1.6744
Oruonye, E. D., & Ahmed, Y. M. (2020). The role of enforcement in environmental protection in Nigeria. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 7(1), 48–56. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2020.7.1.0237
Ozuruoke, P. N., Wokekoro, E., & Ihuah, P. W. (2021). Challenges facing community participation in managing natural resources in Omoku, Nigeria. MOJ Ecology & Environmental Sciences, 6(3), 70–73.
Prasert, S. (2024). Buddhist ethics and environmental conservation in Thailand. Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Religion, 7(2), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.47604/jpcr.2606
Phil-Eze, P. O. (2010). The utilisation, threats, and conservation of biodiversity in Igboland, Nigeria. A Survey of Igbo Nation, 2(31), 849–872.
Raimi, M. O., Saliu, A. O., Babatunde, A., Okon, O. G., Taiwo, P., Ahmed, A., Loto, O., Iyingiala, A., & Telu, M. (2022). The challenges and conservation strategies of biodiversity: The role of government and non-governmental organisations for action and results on the ground. In Biodiversity in Africa: Potentials, Threats, and Conservation (pp. 473–504). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3326-4_18
Rands, M. R., Adams, W. M., Bennun, L., Butchart, S. H., Clements, A., Coomes, D., Entwistle, A., Hodge, I., Kapos, V., Scharlemann, J., Sutherland, W., & Vira, B. (2010). Biodiversity conservation: Challenges beyond 2010. Science, 329(5997), 1298–1303. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1189138
Sam, K., Zabbey, N., Gbaa, N. D., Ezurike, J., & Okoro, C. (2023). Towards a framework for mangrove restoration and conservation in Nigeria. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 65, 103154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103154
Sambe, L. N., Yager, G. O., Ver, P. N., & Ikape, M. O. (2021). Approaches and challenges of traditional institutions in conservation of biodiversity: Implications for sustainable management of natural resources in Nigeria. Plants and Environment, 3(1), 14–22. https://doi.org/10.22271/2582-3744.2021.mar.14
Singh, V. (2024). Biodiversity: Concepts and values. In Textbook of Environment and Ecology (pp. 209–215). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8846-4_13
Sinthumule, N. (2023). Traditional ecological knowledge and its role in biodiversity conservation: A systematic review. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, 1164900. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1164900
The Nation. (2017). Super-highway: Cross River hasn’t met guidelines, says NCF. https://thenationonlineng.net/super-highway-cross-river-hasnt-met-guidelines-says-ncf/amp/
Udeagha, A. U., Udofia, S. I., & Jacob, D. E. (2013). Cultural and socio-economic perspectives of the conservation of Asanting Ibiono Sacred Forests in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 5(11), 696–703.
Ukpoju, E. A., Abatan, A., Obaedo, B. O., Balogun, O. D., & Adegbite, A. (2023). Assessing the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation strategies in Nigeria: A comprehensive review. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 5(10), 577–598.
William, J. V., & Ebong, M. S. (2024). Snake conservation and ecosystem engineering in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria. Journal of Global Ecology and Environment, 12(4), 1–13.
William, J. V. (2024). Communal and state-controlled approaches in biodiversity conservation in Akwa Ibom State: A comparative analysis. Environment & Ecosystem Services (EES), 8(1), 60–65.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Scientific Reports in Life Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
