Biodiversity Wealth of Nigeria

Nigeria is located in the western part of Africa between latitudes 4° 16´N and 13°52´N;

and between longitudes 2°49´E and 14°37´E. It occupies a total land area of 923,768km2

with a population of 120million people. By virtue of its geographical extent, it spans

different climatic and ecological zones. The variable climatic conditions and physical

features have endowed Nigeria with a very rich biodiversity. The mean annual rainfall

ranges from about 450 mm in the northeast to about 3500 mm in the coastal south-east,

with rains falling within 90 to 290 days respectively. The mean annual temperature

ranges from 21°C in the south to 30°C in the north with extremes of 14°C and 45°C and

an altitude range of 0 - 1000m above sea level.

Nigeria 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. Nigeria’s plants include many species with traditional value as food items, medicines and for various domestic uses . 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.

Nigeria is known as a global hotspot for primate species, with a great diversity found especially in the Gulf of Guinea forests of Cross River State,

the Niger Delta region (involving Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers states) of Nigeria has the largest wetland in Africa and third largest in the world

Nigeria signed the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 and ratified it in 1994, in other to conserve the national biodiversity , The Yankari Forest Reserve, with an area of 1, 280km2 was established in 1956, followed by the Borgu game reserve established in 1963 with an area of 245km 2. 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.

Nigerian Biodiversity is currently threatened by climate change, genetic erosion, deforestation, illegal hunting, fishing and many more.

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