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Nigeria must restore her mangrove forests-NCF
Country's mangrove is Africa's largest, third on earth
Nigeria has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
As the world commemorates the day, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) is calling on all the stakeholders to rise to issues affecting the nation’s Mangroves.
In a release signed by its Head of Communications, Oladapo Soneye, the NCF advocates the preservation of the country’s Mangrove forests which accounts for a third of Africa’s Mangrove forest.
Nigeria’s Mangrove is also the largest on the continent and third largest on earth, the more reason NCF has called for necessary collaboration to protect the vast ecosystem.
Why should the country lose her Mangrove forest to lack of sustainable lifestyle and negligence of the environment when she should be benefiting immensely from a flourishing Mangrove if well harnessed? The release queried.
NCF stated further that, the Niger Delta Mangroves are estimated to provide 60% of the spawning grounds of fishes in West Africa. The Mangrove forests are also said to absorb carbon and determine the livelihood of coastal dwellers.
Among the forests in Nigeria, the Mangroves make up 40% of the remaining original forests covering 10,500 square kilometres.
Meanwhile, Mangrove degradation is caused by oil pollution, firewood cutting, over-exploitation and sand filling among other factors.
NCF and other environmental NGOs have embarked on Mangrove Restoration projects to restore Nigeria’s Mangrove to at least 70% of their original states.
Today, there is an urgent need for rehabilitation for the Mangrove ecosystem to be stepped up if they are to continue to render services to the country.
5 Facts about Nigeria’s Mangrove
- The Mangroves make up 40% of Nigeria’s remaining original forests.
- Niger Delta Mangroves provide 60% of spawning grounds of fishes in West Africa sub-region.
- Mangrove forests in Nigeria cover 10,500 square kilometres.
- Nigeria’s Mangrove is the largest on the continent and third largest on earth.
- Mangrove forests in Nigeria accounts for a third of Africa’s Mangrove ecosystem.
