Massive Degradation of Mangrove in Niger Delta
Katherine Abayomi
An Environmentalist Ime Ikpoke Nkanta ,has called on stakeholders to guard the Mangrove ecosystem from extinction.
He said this to raise awareness of the mangrove ecosystem’s importance as a special and vulnerable ecosystem and to promote solutions for its renewable management and conservation.
He disclosed this while commemorating the 2024 International Day of the Mangrove, organised by Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRCC) in collaboration with Sustainable Actions for Nature(SAN) and sponsored by First Climate in Port Harcourt.
Nkanta, who is also the director of the Tropical Research and Conservation Center (TRCC)in Akwa Ibom state, expressed his concerns on the degradation of the Mangrove in the Niger Delta, which has affected the aquatic life, socio-economic and environmental in coastal communities.
“However, mangroves have been largely degraded in the Niger Delta where human activities like farming, aquaculture, urban development, pollution, over exploitation and extreme weather have posed a threat.
“The degradation on loss of the mangrove ecosystem according to data is an average of 72 percent in most mangrove developing countries leading to devastating socio- economic and environmental consequences in coastal communities.”
He further stated that the cutting down of this mangrove results in increase in rising sea levels leading to sub emerging.
“Such degradation activities cutting of the mangrove for timber or firewood , destruction of the mangrove forest for urbanization and or development by Organizations, causing increase in rising sea levels resulting in their submerging and eventual loss.”
He however said TRCC which main focus is reforestation projects of the mangrove ecosystem in states such as Delta, Rivers, Ondo and Akwa Ibom in the Niger Delta Region, has planted over 1million mangrove seedlings especially in the coastal region of Akwa Ibom State.
Director of Sustainable Actions For Nature Dr Grace Alawa she stated the importance of Mangrove to the eco system, “it been a complex habitat, the most flourishing eco systems in existence that serves as a hub for many species for their feeding and reproduction. “
“From their intertwining roots to the tips of their branches, mangroves are a complex habitat and one of the most flourishing ecosystems in existence where many species come to feed and reproduce. These environments are also vital for humans, as they not only protect seafood from predators but also slow down coastal erosion and curb the destructive power of storm surges – a real benefit at a time of growing climate disruption.”
DR Alawa mentioned the Managrove been under threat of extinction,
“However, mangroves are in danger: it has been estimated that more than three-quarters of the world’s mangroves are under threat along with all the aquatic and terrestrial organisms that depend on them; ‘according to Beeston et al’.
“In the last five decades, 20-35% of our mangroves have disappeared (Beeston et al., 2023). Nigerian mangroves are amongst the worst degraded globally; oil exploration activities, artisanal refineries, poaching, habitat destruction, overharvesting, coastal erosion, shrimp farming, acidification, eutrophication, climate change are some of the challenges that have contributed to the loss of the mangrove ecosystem in Nigeria.”
“Nigeria has the largest mangrove forest in Africa and the third largest in the world. The Nigerian mangrove forest was earlier considered to be the least disturbed of the forest zones of Nigeria. That is not the situation today. The decline in capture fishery production in Nigeria is partly linked to massive mangrove loss in the Niger delta region.”she retorted.
Professor of plant Ecology and Eco restoration in the department of plant science and Biotechnology, University of Port harcourt, Franklin Tanee, said that the destruction of the Mangrove was caused by man.
He called for more collaboration and enlightenment, stakeholders coming together to form a force.
Commissioner of Agriculture Rivers State,Barrister Mrs Onimim Jack’s been represented expressed her heartfelt appreciation to their commitment to this noble cause in her speech .
“The restoration of the Mangrove forests us crucial for the sustainability of our environment, the well being of our communities and the prosperity of our state “.
Barrister Onimim stated that consulted communities should be engaged in the decision process and things surrounding the livelihood, because they bear the brunt of the oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta.
