Assessing wetland degradation and loss of ecosystem services in the Niger Delta, Nigeria
Ayansina Ayanlade A C and Ulrike Proske B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
B Department of Archaeology and Natural History, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: aayanlade@oauife.edu.ng
Marine and Freshwater Research 67(6) 828-836 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15066
Submitted: 20 February 2015 Accepted: 14 July 2015 Published: 31 August 2015
Abstract
The Niger Delta, being the most extensive freshwater wetland and aquatic ecosystem in West Africa, provides numerous services both to local people and to the West African economy. Ongoing environmental pressure exerted by large-scale oil extraction and illegal timber logging, however, are suspected to have had a substantial impact on the Delta’s ecosystems over the last decades. Knowledge on impact of these activities on the region’s wetlands now or in the past is scarce and patchy. To address this lack of knowledge, this study assesses spatiotemporal changes in two wetlands in the region by using satellite data from 1984 to 2011 and GIS methods. The results show that both wetlands have experienced substantial degradation, particularly with respect to the area of forest lost. Although comprehensive environmental protection laws were introduced in 1988, ecosystem services of up to US$65 million in value were lost over the study period. The introduction of new legislation in 2007, however, is potentially a first step towards a more ‘wise use’ of wetlands in Nigeria.
Additional keywords: GIS, NDVI, Ramsar, Remote sensing.
References
Adegbehin, J. O., and Nwaigbo, L. C. (1990). Mangrove resources in Nigeria: use and management perspectives. Nature and Resources (UNESCO) 26, 13–21.Adekola, O., and Mitchell, G. (2011). The Niger Delta wetlands: threats to ecosystem services, their importance to dependent communities and possible management measures. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management 7, 50–68.
| The Niger Delta wetlands: threats to ecosystem services, their importance to dependent communities and possible management measures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Adekola, O., Whanda, S., and Ogwu, F. (2012). Assessment of policies and legislation that affect management of wetlands in Nigeria. Wetlands 32, 665–677.
| Assessment of policies and legislation that affect management of wetlands in Nigeria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Adekola, O., Mitchell, G., and Grainger, A. (2015). Inequality and ecosystem services: the value and social distribution of Niger Delta wetland services. Ecosystem Services 12, 42–54.
| Inequality and ecosystem services: the value and social distribution of Niger Delta wetland services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Agapiou, A., Hadjimitsis, D. G., Papoutsa, C., Alexakis, D. D., and Papadavid, G. (2011). The importance of accounting for atmospheric effects in the application of NDVI and interpretation of satellite imagery supporting archaeological research: the case studies of Palaepaphos and Nea Paphos sites in Cyprus. Remote Sensing 3, 2605–2629.
| The importance of accounting for atmospheric effects in the application of NDVI and interpretation of satellite imagery supporting archaeological research: the case studies of Palaepaphos and Nea Paphos sites in Cyprus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Alagoa, E. J., and Derefaka, A. A. (2002). ‘The Land and People of Riverstate: Eastern Niger Delta.’ (Onyoma Research Publications: Port Harcourt) pp. 53–83.
Alongi, D. M. (2008). Mangrove forests: resilience, protection from tsunamis, and responses to global climate change. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 76, 1–13.
| Mangrove forests: resilience, protection from tsunamis, and responses to global climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Atakpo, E. A., and Ayolabi, E. A. (2009). Evaluation of aquifer vulnerability and the protective capacity in some oil producing communities of western Niger Delta. The Environmentalist 29, 310–317.
| Evaluation of aquifer vulnerability and the protective capacity in some oil producing communities of western Niger Delta.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blench, R. (2007). The mammals of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. The Kay Williamson Education Foundation (KWEF). Available at: www.rogerblench.info/Ethnoscience%20data/Niger%20Delta%20mammal%20book.pdf [accessed March 2010].
Bolstad, P., and Lillesand, T. (1991). Rapid maximum likelihood classification. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 57, 67–74.
Carter, R. C., Carr, M. K. V., and Kay, M. G. (1983). Polices and prospects in Nigerian irrigation. Outlook on Agriculture 12, 73–76.
Costanza, R., d-Arge, R., de Groot, R. S., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., Limburg, K., Naeem, S., O’Neill, R. V., Paruelo, J., Raskin, R. G., Sutton, P., and van-den-Belt, M. (1997). The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387, 253–260.
| The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjtlShtbs%3D&md5=25828f5b7a831e14a9c671e6ca22d945CAS |
Costanza, R., de Groot, R., Sutton, P., van der Ploeg, S., Anderson, S. J., Kubiszewski, I., Farber, S., and Turner, R. K. (2014). Changes in the global value of ecosystem services. Global Environmental Change 26, 152–158.
| Changes in the global value of ecosystem services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
de Groot, R., Brander, L., van der Ploeg, S., Costanza, R., Bernard, F., Braat, L., Christie, M., Crossman, N., Ghermandi, A., Hein, L., Hussain, S., Kumar, P., McVittie, A., Portela, R., Rodriguez, L. C., ten Brink, P., and van Beukering, P. (2012). Global estimates of the value of ecosystems and their services in monetary units. Ecosystem Services 1, 50–61.
Ebeku, K. S. A. (2004). Biodiversity conservation in Nigeria: an appraisal of the legal regime in relation to the Niger Delta area of the country. Journal of Environmental Law 16, 361–375.
Environmental Law Research Institute (2011). A synopsis of laws and regulations on the environment in Nigeria. Available at: www.elri-ng.org/newsandrelease2.html [accessed March 2010].
Eregha, P. B., and Irughe, I. R. (2009). Oil induced environmental degradation in Nigeria’s Niger Delta: the multiplier effects. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa 11, 160–175.
Fagbami, A. A., Udo, E. J., and Odu, C. T. I. (1988). Vegetation damage in an oil field in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Journal of Tropical Ecology 4, 61–75.
| Vegetation damage in an oil field in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
FAO (1999). Forest Resource Situation Assessment of Nigeria. Available at: www.fao.org/3/a-ab578e.pdf [accessed March 2010].
Federal Environmental Protection Agency [FEPA] Act (1998). Available at: www.placng.org [accessed March 2010].
Federal Ministry of the Environment [FME] (2014). Key initiatives. Available at: http://environment.gov.ng [accessed March 2010].
Frynas, J. G. (2000). ‘Oil in Nigeria: Conflict and Litigation between Oil Companies and Village Communities.’ (LIT-Verlag: Hamburg.)
Ibaba, S. (2010). Environmental protection laws and sustainable development in the Niger Delta. Africana 2, 42–77.
Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool [IBAT] (2012). Available at: https://www.ibat-alliance.org/ibat-conservation [accessed July 2015].
Ite, U. E. (2005). Tree integration in homestead farms in southeast Nigeria: propositions and evidence. The Geographical Journal 171, 209–222.
| Tree integration in homestead farms in southeast Nigeria: propositions and evidence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
IUCN and UNEP-WCMC (2014). The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). Cambridge, UK. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net [accessed March 2015].
James, G. K., Adegoke, J. O., Saba, E., Nwilo, P., and Akinyede, J. (2007). Satellite-based assessment of the extent and changes in the mangrove ecosystem of the Niger Delta. Marine Geodesy 30, 249–267.
| Satellite-based assessment of the extent and changes in the mangrove ecosystem of the Niger Delta.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kalu, C., and Izekor, D. N. (2006). Evaluation of forest policy in Nigeria: a case study of Edo state. African Journal of Biotechnology 5, 429–433.
Ladan, M. T. (2012). Review of NESREA Act 2007 and Regulations 2009–2011: a new dawn in environmental compliance and enforcement in Nigeria. Law, Environment & Development Journal 8, 116–140.
Li, J., Wang, W., Hu, G., and Wei, Z. (2010). Changes in ecosystem service values in Zoige Plateau, China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 139, 766–770.
| Changes in ecosystem service values in Zoige Plateau, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lu, D., and Weng, Q. (2007). A survey of image classification methods and techniques for improving classification performance. International Journal of Remote Sensing 28, 823–870.
| A survey of image classification methods and techniques for improving classification performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lu, D., Mausel, P., Brondízio, E., and Moran, E. (2002). Assessment of atmospheric correction methods for Landsat TM data applicable to Amazon basin LBA research. International Journal of Remote Sensing 23, 2651–2671.
| Assessment of atmospheric correction methods for Landsat TM data applicable to Amazon basin LBA research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mmom, P. C., and Arokoyu, S. B. (2010). Mangrove forest depletion, biodiversity loss and traditional resources management practices in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology 2, 28–34.
Moffat, D., and Linden, O. (1995). Perception and reality: assessing priority for sustainable development in the Niger Delta. Ambio 24, 537–538.
National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency [NESREA] Act (2007) Available at: www.nesrea.gov.ng [accessed March 2010].
Ndubusi, I. O., and Asia, L. O. (2007). Environmental pollution in oil producing area of Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria: empirical assessment of trend and people perception. Environmental Research Journal 4, 18–28.
Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] (2001). The Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan. NDDC Report, Nigeria. Available at: www.nddc.gov.ng/?page=masterplan [accessed March 2010].
Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] (2004). Biodiversity and Natural Resources Sector Study. Niger Delta Development Commission.
Nigerian Conservation Foundation [NCF] (2014a). NCF in brief. Available at: www.ncfnigeria.org [accessed March 2015].
Nigerian Conservation Foundation [NCF] (2014b). NCF call for actions to save coastal areas. Available at: www.ncfnigeria.org/news-publications/ncf-news/item/81-lagos-ncf-call-for-actions-to-save-coastal-areas [accessed March 2010].
Nigerian Conservation Foundation [NCF], WWF UK, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy and Federal Ministry of Environment (2006). Niger Delta Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration Project, Phase I: Scoping Report. Abuja, Nigeria.
Oates, J. F. (1995). The dangers of conservation by rural development – a case study from the forests of Nigeria. Oryx 29, 115–122.
| The dangers of conservation by rural development – a case study from the forests of Nigeria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ouyang, W., Hao, F. H., Zhao, C., and Lin, C. (2010). Vegetation response to 30 years hydropower cascade exploitation in upper stream of Yellow River. Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation 15, 1928–1941.
| Vegetation response to 30 years hydropower cascade exploitation in upper stream of Yellow River.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Perumal, K., and Bhaskaran, R. (2010). Supervised classification performance of multispectral images. Journal of Computers 2, 124–129.
Phil-Eze, P. O., and Okoro, I. C. (2009). Sustainable biodiversity conservation in the Niger Delta: a practical approach to conservation site selection. Biodiversity and Conservation 18, 1247–1257.
| Sustainable biodiversity conservation in the Niger Delta: a practical approach to conservation site selection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ramsar Convention Secretariat (1996). Resolution VI.1. Annex: a framework for designing a wetland monitoring programme. Proceedings of the 6th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, Brisbane, Australia.
Ramsar Convention Secretariat (2007). Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS): Apoi Creek. Available at: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1751 [accessed March 2010].
Ramsar Convention Secretariat (2010a). Designating Ramsar sites: strategic framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance. Ramsar handbooks for the wise use of wetlands 4(17), Gland, Switzerland.
Ramsar Convention Secretariat (2010b). Inventory, assessment, and monitoring: an Integrated Framework for wetland inventory, assessment, and monitoring. Ramsar handbooks for the wise use of wetlands 4(13), Gland, Switzerland.
Ramsar Convention Secretariat (2010c). Managing wetlands: frameworks for managing Wetlands of International Importance and other wetland sites. Ramsar handbooks for the wise use of wetlands 4(18), Gland, Switzerland.
Richards, J. A. (1999). ‘Remote Sensing Digital Image Analysis.’ (Springer-Verlag: Berlin.)
Salami, A. T., Akinyede, J., and de Gier, A. (2010). A preliminary assessment of NigeriaSat-1 for sustainable mangrove forest monitoring. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 12, S18–S22.
| A preliminary assessment of NigeriaSat-1 for sustainable mangrove forest monitoring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
UNEP-WCMC (2006). In the front line: shoreline protection and other ecosystem services from mangroves and coral reefs. United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, UK.
UNEP-WCMC (2011). Environmental assessment of Ogoniland. United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, UK.
von Hellermann, P. (2007). Things fall apart? Management, environment and Taungya farming in Edo State, southern Nigeria. Africa 77, 371–392.
| Things fall apart? Management, environment and Taungya farming in Edo State, southern Nigeria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Were, J. L. R. (2009). Niger Delta swamp forests (AT0122). Report to World Wildlife Fund. Available at: www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at0122 [accessed March 2010].
