Environmental
Track “A” Training for Cohort 6, Held at the University of Jos from 14th April
2025 – 8th May 2025
Outcome of Group Discussion
Discussion is
led and presented by Dr Joel Daboer
Topic:
A certain project is to be cited in
the south (Oyo State) and another in the north (Yobe State). You have been
invited to be a sub-consultant as a biodiversity/ecology expert in the initial EA
study.
i.
What would be your focus in
addressing biodiversity issues to ensure the role of biodiversity is preserved
in Oyo State. List, with examples, ten important roles of biodiversity that may
constitute challenges, to enable the project to receive regulatory approval.
ii.
Biodiversity conservation refers to
protection, upliftment and management of biodiversity in order to derive
sustainable benefits for present and future generations. What are those
conservation strategies that need to be put in place in order to realize/confirm
the above statement in Yobe State project site? As an expert, what would be
your advice to the project proponent as it might impact on migratory routes?
1. Introduction
Define biodiversity:
Variety of life at all levels (genes, species, ecosystems…)
Importance: Biodiversity
underpins food security, health, and economy in Oyo State.
2. Existing
Biodiversity Conditions (Baseline Study)
Description of
ecosystems:
Forests (e.g., parts of
Old Oyo National Park)
Rivers and wetlands
(Ogun, Osun River basins)
Agricultural landscapes
(cocoa plantations, mixed cropping areas)
Key Species:
Mammals: African civet,
duiker antelope.
Birds: Ibadan Malimbe
(endemic).
Flora: Mahogany trees,
wild yams.
Conservation Status:
Identification of
endangered, vulnerable, or protected species
3. 10 Important Roles
of Biodiversity and Potential Project Challenges
(a) Habitat for
Wildlife
Challenge: Land
clearing destroys critical habitats.
Example: Displacement
of Ibadan Malimbe breeding areas.
(b) Pollination
Services
Challenge: Pesticide
uses, or habitat loss kills pollinators.
Example: Reduced cocoa
yield if bee populations drop.
(c) Water Regulation
Challenge:
Deforestation alters river flows.
Example: Drying of Ogun
River tributaries in dry season.
(d) Soil Fertility
Maintenance
Challenge: Removing
vegetation depletes soils.
Example: Loss of forest
humus layers critical for farming.
(e) Carbon
Sequestration
Challenge:
Deforestation emits CO₂.
Example: Localized
heating and drought risk increase.
(f) Cultural and
Spiritual Values
Challenge: Sacred
groves disturbed.
Example: Conflict with
communities worshipping in sacred forests.
(g) Medicinal Resources
Challenge: Loss of
plants used in traditional medicine.
Example: Disappearance
of bitter kola trees affecting local healers.
(h) Erosion Control
Challenge: Hillsides
become unstable.
Example: Increased
gully formation in rural communities.
(i) Climate Regulation
Challenge: Less
rainfall, hotter microclimates.
Example: Negative
impacts on yam and maize production.
(j) Genetic Diversity
for Agriculture
Challenge: Loss of wild
crop relatives.
Example: Future
breeding programs for drought-resistant yams suffer.
4. Impact Assessment
Methodology
Field surveys.
Remote sensing and GIS
mapping
Stakeholder
consultations (local farmers, forest users)
5. Potential Impacts of
the Project on Biodiversity
Direct (e.g., clearing
forests).
Indirect (e.g., encouraging
settlement expansion)
6. Mitigation Measures
Avoidance: Adjust
project layout to protect sensitive areas.
Minimization: Seasonal
construction to avoid breeding periods.
Restoration: Replant
native trees after construction.
Compensation:
Biodiversity offsets if unavoidable damage occurs.
7. Monitoring and
Evaluation Plan
Periodic biodiversity
surveys.
Community monitoring
programs
8. Conclusion
If biodiversity is
preserved, it enhances long-term sustainability of the project.
Proactive conservation
measures help gain regulatory approval and community support.
Biodiversity
Conservation Strategies for Yobe State: Ensuring Sustainability and Migratory
Corridor Integrity
Thematic Area 1: Understanding Biodiversity and Its
Value in Yobe State
Biodiversity refers to
the rich variety of life forms—plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms—that
exist within a given area. In Yobe State, biodiversity encompasses species
adapted to dry, savanna, and riverine ecosystems. These areas are home to both
resident species and migratory species that use the wetlands and water bodies
within the region.
Significant
Biodiversity Sites in Yobe State:
1. Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands (Partly in Yobe):
A critical Ramsar site
recognized globally for its importance to migratory birds.
Supports over 377 bird
species including species like crowned cranes, whistling ducks, and spur-winged
geese
Serves as a seasonal
feeding ground for Palearctic migratory birds
2. Nguru Lake:
Vital habitat for fish,
including species such as Tilapia and Nile Perch
Home to bird species
like herons and cormorants, which depend on its ecosystems for breeding and
feeding
3. Komadugu-Yobe River Basin:
This is a major water
source for plants, animals, and people alike, providing a lifeline to both
human settlements and wildlife.
Hosts freshwater fish
species like catfish and Nile perch
Supports riverine
forests that are crucial for birdlife and amphibians
4. Gujba Forest Reserve:
One of the remaining
dry forests in the region, this forest reserve is home to threatened species
such as roan antelopes, wild dogs, and African lions (though rare).
Dominated by Acacia
species and sheer butter trees
5. Bade-Nguru Wetlands:
Provides seasonal
habitat for migratory birds and aquatic species
Forms part of the
Palearctic-African migratory flyway, used by wading birds, herons, and ducks.
6. Dagona Birds Sanctuary (Nguru):
A protected area for migratory
birds like garganey and marabou storks that come to feed and rest during
seasonal migrations
Thematic Area 2: Conservation Methods Specific to
Yobe State
Conservation Methods
for Yobe’s Biodiversity: In order to conserve the biodiversity and migratory
routes in Yobe State, we need to implement a combination of in-situ (on-site)
and ex-situ (off-site) conservation strategies.
In-situ Conservation Strategies:
1. Protected Areas:
Strengthen and expand
the boundaries of Yankari Game Reserve, Gujba Forest Reserve, and Hadejia-Nguru
Wetlands to create safe zones for wildlife.
Develop wildlife
corridors that connect these protected zones to enable safe movement of
species.
2. Community Forest Reserves:
Work with local
communities to establish new community-managed forest reserves to conserve
forest habitats and protect species such as the African Mahogany and Roan
Antelope.
3. Biodiversity Corridors:
Establish wildlife
corridors between fragmented habitats to allow species such as elephants,
birds, and antelope to migrate or forage without disturbance.
Ex-situ Conservation Methods:
1. Seed Banks and Arboretums:
Establish seed banks to
store native plant seeds (e.g., Acacia nilotica, Vitellaria paradoxa) to ensure
future restoration and replanting.
2. Captive Breeding Programs:
Set up breeding
programs for endangered species like African wild dog and roan antelope to
boost population numbers before reintroducing them into the wild.
3. Reintroduction Programs:
Plan for the
reintroduction of species such as the West African Lion into areas from which
they have been extirpated, including Gujba Forest Reserve.
Agro-biodiversity Management:
1. Sustainable Agriculture:
Encourage agroforestry
systems that combine agriculture with native tree planting to improve habitat
quality for birds and other wildlife.
Promote rotational
grazing to prevent overgrazing and protect plant species that are critical to
the ecosystem.
2. Restoration Ecology:
Undertake large-scale
restoration of degraded lands, especially Sahelian areas by planting native
trees like Parkia biglobosa and restoring native grasses.
Thematic Area 3: Strategic Planning to Address Migratory Route Impact
Migratory Routes in
Yobe State: The importance of migratory corridors cannot be overstated, as they
are essential for the survival of migratory species, including birds,
elephants, and even livestock herders.
Key Migratory Routes:
1. Palearctic-African
Migratory Flyway:
Many bird species
travel through Yobe State, using wetlands like Hadejia-Nguru and Dagona as
stopovers.
Migrants include
whistling ducks, garganeys, and spoonbills.
2. Elephant and
Antelope Migration:
Historically, African
elephants and other megafauna such as roan antelopes migrated through parts of
Yobe.
Migratory movements are
increasingly disrupted by human development and climate change, especially
through Gujba Forest and along Komadugu-Yobe River.
3. Cattle Grazing
Corridors:
Fulani herders follow
traditional grazing paths across Yobe, and these sometimes overlap with wildlife
migration routes, particularly near the riverbanks and wetlands.
Advice to the Project Proponent:
Avoid large-scale
infrastructure projects, such as roads or settlements, near wetlands or
biodiversity corridors.
Use Environmental
Impact Assessments (EIAs) to evaluate the potential disruptions to wildlife
migratory paths.
Advocate for the
establishment of buffer zones along Komadugu-Yobe River and wetland edges to
maintain natural migration routes for birds and other species.
Thematic Area 4: Community Involvement, Monitoring, and Policy Support
Community-Based
Conservation:
1. Empower Local
Communities:
Involve communities in
wildlife monitoring and habitat protection, especially through training local
rangers and volunteers in biodiversity protection practices.
2. Sustainable
Livelihoods:
Offer incentives for
sustainable practices like eco-tourism and biodiversity-based agriculture.
Real-Time Monitoring
and Technology:
Utilize drone surveys
and camera traps to track migratory species and monitor the health of
ecosystems.
Establish data-sharing
systems for real-time updates on the movements of migratory birds and large
mammals, which will aid conservationists in immediate decision-making.
Policy Integration:
1. Yobe State
Biodiversity Action Plan (YBAP):
Develop and implement
YBAP as a localized strategy under Nigeria’s National Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plan (NBSAP), focusing on sustainable land use and the protection of
migratory routes.
2. Cross-Border
Cooperation:
Collaborate with
neighbouring states like Borno, as well as cross-border efforts with countries
like Chad and Niger, to conserve migratory species that travel through multiple
states.
