Conservation of Biodiversity of Nigerian Drylands

A large proportion of Nigerian drylands is characterized by sandy undulating topography. The sandy soil is usually low in organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus, and degrades rapidly under conditions of intensive rainfall. When over-used, denuded patches may appear as the sand becomes mobile and windblown.

The rainfall regimes are characterized by high concentrations in a few months, intermittence and violent storms. Thus, the drylands are prone to recurrent depletion of soil and shallow groundwater resources that are capable of disrupting the low resilience of the natural ecosystems.

Crop and livestock production are the predominant land uses and they form an integral part of the farming system. Fuel wood alone accounts for 95% of the wood requirement of the people in the drylands. Drought and desertification, accentuated by climate change, constitute the major and most important environmental problems in the drylands of Nigeria. Intensive land use as human and livestock populations increase adds problems of deforestation, air and water pollution, municipal and industrial waste, biodiversity loss and pest infestation. Efforts to protect the environment include establishment of protected areas, such as national parks, game reserves, forest reserves and shelterbelts. A National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan has also been put in place to map out the strategies and guidelines for environmental management and conservation of biodiversity of Nigerian drylands.