The national parks of Nigeria are preserved, enhanced, protected and managed by the Nigeria National Park Service. [1] The Nigeria National Park Service is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of the Environment, and is headed by a conservator general. [2] It works closely with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation. [3]
The first national park was Kainji Lake, established by the military ruler General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979. The National Parks Governing Board and five new National Parks were set up in 1991.
Yankari Game Reserve was upgraded to a national park in 1992, although it was later handed over to the Bauchi State government in June 2006.
The parks cover a total land area of approximately 20,156 km2, or about 3% of Nigeria's total land area. [4]
Park | Area km2 | Established | State(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chad Basin | 2,258 | 1991 | Borno, Yobe | Includes part of the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands and the Sambisa Game Reserve |
Cross River | 4,000 | 1991 | Cross River | Okwangwo section and Oban section (1,906 km2) |
Gashaka Gumti | 6,731 | 1991 | Taraba, Adamawa | |
Kainji | 5,382 | 1979 | Niger, Kwara | Includes Kainji Lake, Borgu Game Reserve and Zugurma Game Reserve |
Kamuku | 1,121 | 1999 | Kaduna | |
Okomu | 181 | 1999 | Edo | Part of the Okomu Forest Reserve |
Old Oyo | 2,512 | 1991 | Oyo, Kwara | |
Yankari | 2,244 | 1962 | Bauchi | Operated by the Bauchi State government |
The establishment and evolution of Nigeria's national park system is a testament to the nation's commitment to preserving its rich natural and cultural heritage. [5] [6] The development of this system can be traced through several significant phases and events: [7]
The roots of Nigeria's national park system can be traced back to the colonial period when British colonial authorities acknowledged the ecological and cultural importance of certain regions within the country. [8] During this time, their primary focus was on limited conservation efforts with a strong emphasis on safeguarding wildlife and preserving habitats, particularly for the purpose of hunting and game preservation. [9] However, it's important to note that during this era, local populations were often excluded and displaced from these areas in the name of conservation.
One notable example of an early conservation initiative occurred in the Cross River region, which now constitutes a significant part of Cross River National Park. The establishment of Cross River National Park marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Nigeria's national park system. [10] The area's unique biodiversity and pristine natural landscapes captured the attention of colonial authorities, leading to efforts to protect the region and its wildlife.
During this period, the primary objectives were aimed at maintaining populations of native species and preserving their natural habitats. These efforts were driven by the colonial administration's interests in promoting hunting and game preservation for recreational and economic purposes, rather than any deep-seated commitment to ecological conservation. [11] [8]
One of the consequences of these early conservation initiatives was the displacement and exclusion of local communities from their traditional lands. The British colonial authorities often implemented policies that restricted access to these areas, which had been used by local populations for centuries.[ citation needed ] This created a complex dynamic between conservation and the rights of indigenous people, a challenge that would continue to be addressed in the development of Nigeria's national park system over time.
In the wake of Nigeria's attainment of independence in 1960, there emerged a heightened awareness of the critical importance of preserving the nation's unparalleled biodiversity and natural landscapes. [12] This recognition was driven by a growing understanding of the ecological, cultural, and economic value of the country's diverse ecosystems. In response to this awareness and in a bid to address the pressing need for effective conservation measures, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation was established in 1982. The foundation marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of Nigeria's approach to conservation. [10] As a non-governmental organization, the foundation swiftly assumed a central role in advancing the cause of environmental preservation and the development of Nigeria's national park system.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation embarked on a mission, working in close collaboration with both the government and local communities. This collaborative approach was instrumental in promoting conservation efforts and laying the groundwork for the establishment of new national parks. [13] The foundation leveraged its resources, expertise, and outreach to not only advocate for the protection of natural areas but also to engage with local communities, whose support and involvement were deemed essential for the success of conservation initiatives. By fostering partnerships and cooperation between governmental bodies, indigenous populations, and environmental organizations, the foundation played a pivotal role in advocating for the preservation of Nigeria's unique natural heritage and promoting the sustainable management of these precious resources.[ citation needed ] This approach not only helped safeguard the nation's biodiversity but also contributed to the broader goals of ecological sustainability and the protection of Nigeria's cultural and ecological patrimony.
The Nigerian government has, over the years, demonstrated a strong commitment to recognizing and preserving the nation's natural and cultural heritage through the establishment of national parks. These protected areas serve as crucial repositories of the country's diverse ecosystems, as well as its rich cultural and historical significance. [14] [15] The establishment of several national parks has been a pivotal step in this direction, with each park strategically located within various ecological zones of Nigeria to ensure comprehensive conservation coverage. [16]
One of the most notable national parks in Nigeria is Yankari National Park, which was officially established in 1991. Yankari National Park, located in the northeastern part of the country, is renowned for its unique combination of wildlife, geothermal features, and cultural heritage. It encompasses a wide range of ecosystems, including savannas, forests, and wetlands, making it a biodiversity hotspot. [17] Yankari National Park is home to diverse species of mammals, birds, and reptiles, making it a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts and ecotourists.
Another significant addition to Nigeria's national park system is Gashaka-Gumti National Park, also established in 1991. This vast park, situated in the northeastern part of the country, is the largest national park in Nigeria and one of the largest in West Africa. Gashaka-Gumti National Park is characterized by its rugged and picturesque landscapes, with high mountains, dense forests, and pristine rivers. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including chimpanzees, elephants, leopards, and numerous bird species. Its remote location and unspoiled nature make it an essential conservation area.
Kamuku National Park, established in 1991 as well, is another vital component of Nigeria's national park system. Located in the northwest of the country, this park is known for its extensive woodlands and dry savannas. [18] Kamuku National Park plays a crucial role in conserving the unique flora and fauna adapted to these arid environments. It is an important habitat for species such as antelopes, baboons, and diverse birdlife. The park's establishment has helped protect these ecosystems and the wildlife that call them home.
Nigeria's national parks are not only important for conservation but also serve as sites for scientific research. [5] [19] They have provided researchers, both local and international, with unique environments for studying and understanding the nation's exceptional flora and fauna, including numerous endangered species. [20] [21] These research initiatives aim to inform and enhance conservation strategies and further the knowledge of Nigeria's natural heritage. [22]
Despite their establishment, Nigeria's national parks have faced various challenges, [23] including habitat degradation, poaching, illegal logging, and conflicts with local communities. [5] To address these challenges, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and international organizations, has implemented a range of conservation efforts. These initiatives encompass community engagement, capacity building, anti-poaching measures, and environmental education programs. [24]
Several of Nigeria's national parks have gained international recognition for their ecological importance.[ citation needed ] Some have been designated as UNESCO Biosphere Reserves or recognized under international conservation agreements, fostering collaboration with global conservation organizations. [25] These partnerships contribute to enhanced conservation efforts and the protection of the parks' unique ecosystems. [26]
As Nigeria continues to expand its national park system, there is a growing emphasis on promoting sustainable ecotourism. [27] This approach aims to generate revenue for park management while simultaneously supporting the conservation of Nigeria's rich biodiversity. As the nation evolves, its national parks remain vital for preserving its natural treasures and fostering sustainable development.[ citation needed ]
National parks in Nigeria serve a multifaceted role, contributing significantly to the nation's social, cultural, and economic well-being. [28] They are not only vital for the conservation of the country's natural heritage but also for the development and enrichment of Nigerian society.
National parks have a profound social impact on Nigeria, [28] benefiting the local communities, visitors, and society as a whole:
National parks play a crucial role in preserving Nigeria's cultural identity, traditions, and indigenous knowledge:
National parks are not only centers for conservation but also contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy:
Ecotourism is a form of tourism marketed as "responsible" travel to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. The stated purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different cultures and human rights.
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources is limited.
This is an index of conservation topics. It is an alphabetical index of articles relating to conservation biology and conservation of the natural environment.
Conservation biology is the study of the conservation of nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions. It is an interdisciplinary subject drawing on natural and social sciences, and the practice of natural resource management.
Yankari Game Reserve is a large wildlife park and former National Park located in the south-central part of Bauchi State, in northeastern Nigeria. It covers an area of about 2,244 km2 (866 sq mi) and is home to several natural warm water springs, as well as a wide variety of flora and fauna. Its location in the heartland of the West African savanna makes it a unique way for tourists to watch wildlife in its natural habitat. Yankari was created as a game reserve in 1956, but later designated Nigeria's biggest national park in 1991. It is the most popular destination for tourists in Nigeria and plays a crucial role in the development and promotion of tourism and ecotourism in Nigeria. It is also a popular eco-destination in West Africa.
Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. Sustainable tourism should embrace concerns for environmental protection, social equity, and the quality of life, cultural diversity, and a dynamic, viable economy delivering jobs and prosperity for all. It has its roots in sustainable development and there can be some confusion as to what "sustainable tourism" means. There is now broad consensus that tourism should be sustainable. In fact, all forms of tourism have the potential to be sustainable if planned, developed and managed properly. Tourist development organizations are promoting sustainable tourism practices in order to mitigate negative effects caused by the growing impact of tourism, for example its environmental impacts.
The Lower Guinean forests also known as the Lower Guinean-Congolian forests, are a region of coastal tropical moist broadleaf forest in West Africa, extending along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Guinea from eastern Benin through Nigeria and Cameroon.
The Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, also known as the Guinean forest-savanna transition, is a distinctive ecological region located in West Africa. It stretches across several countries including Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon. This region is characterized by a unique blend of forested areas and savannas, creating a diverse and dynamic landscape.
Natural resource management (NRM) is the management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations (stewardship).
Oba Hills Forest Reserve is a reserve in Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria, that covers about 52 km2 of hilly terrain with deep gorges. Oba Hill Forest Reserve is a small enclave encompassing three hills with a wide valley running in between. A large teak plantation is there on its western side, covering about 12% of its total area beyond the hills. Only coppices are left on the over-exploited plantation. According to a UICN report from 2003, about 12% of the reserve had been planted with teak. Some chimpanzee sightings had been reported, and in 1999, a dead chimp was offered for sale in a local market. A 2009 report said that almost all of the reserve had been converted to plantations and farms, with only two gullies remaining forest-covered. It is now believed that chimpanzees are nearly extinct in the reserve.
Idanre Forest Reserve is in Idanre local government area of the Nigerian state of Ondo, in the south-west part of the country. This International Union for Conservation of Nature designated nature reserve covers 561 square kilometres (217 sq mi).It is a lowland rainforest with an altitude of 10 to 400 meters.
Akure Forest Reserve is a protected area in southwest Nigeria, covering 66 km2 (25 sq mi). The Akure Forest Reserve, established in 1948 and spanning approximately 32 hectares, was created with the primary aim of safeguarding the genetic diversity of the forest ecosystem.
Oluwa Forest Reserve is located in Ondo State, Nigeria and covers over 829 km2 (320 sq mi). It is part of the Omo, Shasha and Oluwa forest reserves, although it has become separated from the Omo and Shasha reserves. The three reserves contain some of the last remaining forest in the area. Although they are biologically unique, they are threatened by logging, hunting and agriculture. The natural vegetation of the area is tropical rainforest. However, the natural vegetation of the area except for the areas devoted to forest reserve has now been reduced to secondary regrowth forest and fallow regrowth at varying stages of development or replaced by perennial and annual crops.
The Okomu Forest Reserve is a forest block covering an area of 1081 km2 in Edo State, about 50 km west of Benin City, Nigeria. The Okomu National Park lies within the larger reserve, maintaining a small part of the forests that once covered the region as the last habitat for many endangered species.
Nigeria has extensive mangrove forests in the coastal region of the Niger Delta. Considered one of the most ecologically sensitive regions in the world, the Niger Delta mangrove forest is situated within a deltaic depositional environment. These mangrove forests serve a critical role in regional ecological and landscape composition, and support subsistence gathering practices, and market-based income opportunities. Anthropogenic development threatens the survival of Niger Delta mangrove populations.
The biogeographic regionalization of Earth's terrestrial biodiversity, known as Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World (TEOW), is made up of 867 ecoregions that are divided into 14 biomes. In addition to offering a comprehensive map of terrestrial biodiversity, TEOW also provides a global species database for ecological analyses and priority setting, a logical biogeographic framework for large-scale conservation strategies, a map for enhancing biogeographic literacy, and a foundation for the Global 200.
The Niger Delta swamp forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in southern Nigeria. It consists of freshwater swamp forests in the Niger Delta of the Niger River. This swamp forest is the second largest in Africa after the Congolian swamp forests. Although there are large cities just outside the ecoregion, the area has been relatively isolated by the difficulty of building roads across the swamps, although this is changing with development of oil and logging industries. Scientific surveys have only begun in recent years, and new species were being identified into the 1990s. Crude oil exploration and pollution has been a threat to forests in the Niger Delta region.
Long before deforestation became an issue of major concern, different cultural practices and traditions of the world has substantially conserved nature with divers approaches. This does not exclude the local communities of Nigeria where the traditions passed down from one generation to the next has played a great role in preserving some forest to this day.
The concept of conservation considers the prudent use and preservation of Earth's resources, aiming to manage these resources based on precise inventory and assessment. Wildlife conservation is a deliberate endeavor aimed at safeguarding and maintaining the planet's biological diversity. It is an effort to responsibly manage and use wild populations to ensure their availability for future generations. It holds great significance because both wildlife and untouched natural environments have a crucial role in sustaining the ecological equilibrium, which, in turn, enhances the quality of human existence. It also plays a role in equilibrium within ecosystems and contributes to the continuity of various natural processes, including precipitation, temperature regulation, and soil fertility. Nigeria's diverse ecosystems, ranging from lush rainforests to vast savanna grasslands, are home to a rich variety of wildlife, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, while its northern border is marked by the Sahara Desert.
Ecotourism represents a gradually growing sub-sector within the tourism industry of Nigeria. Ecotourism is widely regarded as an optimal approach for achieving economic prosperity while concurrently promoting ecological sustainability. Various agents of change, encompassing economic development, alterations in land use and climate patterns, as well as population growth, continue to pose significant threats to global biodiversity. Consequently, these factors have contributed to a profoundly concerning and precipitous decline in biodiversity on a global scale. The escalating concerns regarding this decline in recent years have played a pivotal role in fostering increased awareness of the paramount importance of biodiversity in upholding ecosystem stability and the fundamental functions it provides.
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