Nigeria, the most populated black nation in the world, is rich in Biodiversity.  The country is endowed with a variety of plant and animal species.  There are about 7, 895 plant species identified in 338 families and 2, 215 genera.  There are 22, 000 vertebrates and invertebrates species.  These species include about 20, 000 insects, about 1, 000 birds, about 1, 000 fishes, 247 mammals and 123 reptiles.  Of these animals about 0.14% is threatened while 0.22% is endangered.  About 1, 489 species of microorganisms have also been identified.  All of these animal and plant species occur in different numbers within the country?s vegetation that range from the mangrove along the coast in the south to the Sahel in the north.  Most of the biodiversity sustain the rural economy.

Previous comprehensive survey of the wildlife situation in Nigeria showed drastic reduction in wildlife numbers when compared with neighboring countries, a trend attributed to excessive hunting.  This led to a recommendation preventing hunting or capture of all species threatened with extinction, a strict limit to the hunting of species with low or reduced numbers, a ban on night, hunting and establishment of closed hunting seasons.

Presently, there are National parks and Game reserves that project endangered species such as Chimpanze, Gorilla, Ostrich, Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Pigmy hippopotamus and Water chevrotain. 

Furthermore, it was recommended that the establishment of more game reserves, and of a wildlife advisor board with professionally trained ecologist to protect wildlife resources should implement management programmes, Research and public should be intensified in the vicinity of Lake Chad, Jos Plateau, Lafia (north of River Benue), Mambilla and Obudu, (for gorillas and chimpanzees), Cross River, Upper Ogun and Gilligilli and should be designated as game reserves.

CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN NIGERIA

Direct causes of biodiversity loss are related to agricultural activities, bush burning, fuel-wood collection, logging, grazing and gathering.  The introduction of cash crops like cocoa, coffee, rubber, cotton, groundnut and oil palm into the farming systems since the 1900s was a big impetus for massive deforestation of the natural ecosystems.  For example, the land devoted to agriculture increased from 8.9 million hectares in 1951 to about 55.8 million hectares in 1995.  The massive rate of deforestation is a direct cause of biodiversity loss.

Wood accounts for about 85% of domestic energy use in the country. Preference is often given to wood species with high calorific values that occur largely in the savanna and rainforest ecosystems of the country. Thus high depletion of fuel-wood species is easily notable in the savanna and rainforest ecosystems.

Nigeria?s present network of protected areas includes a biosphere reserve, 8 national parks, 445 forest reserves, 12 strict nature reserves and 28 game reserves. Other sanctuaries and game reserves have been proposed.  The total area of land under national parks is about 2.4million hectares.  These game reserves were meant to conserve wild life and to supplement protein from domestic sources.