Threats to Niger-Delta Wetlands: A Case Study of Apoi Creek Forest  

作　　者：Iwebuke Edo Eike Albrecht Iwebuke Edo;Eike Albrecht(Faculty 5, Business, Law and Social Sciences, Department of Civil Law and Public Law with Reference to the Law of Europe and the Environment, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), Germany)

机构地区：[1]Faculty 5, Business, Law and Social Sciences, Department of Civil Law and Public Law with Reference to the Law of Europe and the Environment, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), Germany

出　　处：《Open Journal of Ecology》2021年第2期136-147,共12页生态学期刊（英文）

摘　　要：Wetlands are essential subsystem of the general ecosystem with so many functions;like purification and sustenance of ground and surface water resources on earth, and its numerous services that it offers to animal, plant, human (local communities) and the nation’s economy at large. The issue of wetland degradation and wetland loss started when the world was seeing wetlands as unproductive, unhealthy land full of snakes and crocodiles. Niger Delta wetland ecosystem is a very rich and important ecosystem in Nigeria, it harbours some endemic spices both flora and fauna, a hotspot for biodiversity and it is of high economic value for the local communities. This paper reviews that changes have occurred in the study area and the Niger Delta wetlands. The changes were identified to be as a result of human activities (anthropogenic activities) and the ongoing environmental pressure resulting from the large scale oil exploration and exploitation, pipeline installation, urban expansion and agriculture. These were identified as some of the major threats to Apoi creek forest wetland. These findings were obtained after analysing the data obtained which helped to raise awareness that can assist to effectively monitor, protect and conserve the wetland ecosystem.Wetlands are essential subsystem of the general ecosystem with so many functions;like purification and sustenance of ground and surface water resources on earth, and its numerous services that it offers to animal, plant, human (local communities) and the nation’s economy at large. The issue of wetland degradation and wetland loss started when the world was seeing wetlands as unproductive, unhealthy land full of snakes and crocodiles. Niger Delta wetland ecosystem is a very rich and important ecosystem in Nigeria, it harbours some endemic spices both flora and fauna, a hotspot for biodiversity and it is of high economic value for the local communities. This paper reviews that changes have occurred in the study area and the Niger Delta wetlands. The changes were identified to be as a result of human activities (anthropogenic activities) and the ongoing environmental pressure resulting from the large scale oil exploration and exploitation, pipeline installation, urban expansion and agriculture. These were identified as some of the major threats to Apoi creek forest wetland. These findings were obtained after analysing the data obtained which helped to raise awareness that can assist to effectively monitor, protect and conserve the wetland ecosystem.

关 键 词：WETLAND BIODIVERSITY Niger-Delta Ecosystem 

分 类 号：X37[环境科学与工程—环境工程]