This article will explain the various activities in Nigeria that lead to genetic erosion, both directly and indirectly. Genetic erosion poses a serious threat to human survival, although its impact may not be immediately visible. Future generations may suffer significantly due to the neglect of the environment by earlier generations.
Causes of Genetic Erosion in Nigeria
In Nigeria, several factors contribute to the loss of biodiversity, which is occurring at an alarming rate. The causes of biodiversity loss in the country are largely tied to human activities, including:
- Development initiatives
- Improved quality of life through industrialization
- Technological advancement
- Rapid urbanization.
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Indirect Causes of Genetic Erosion in Nigeria
Indirect causes of genetic erosion in Nigeria include the following:
- Economic policies
- Rising demand for forest products
- Poor cultural practices
- Inadequate law enforcement
- Weak laws
- Increased export demands for primates and birds for research
- Trade in timber and non-timber species
- Continued timber harvesting without replacement
- Cultural practices that promote the use of specific species for festivals, which often limit the population of species within narrow ecological ranges
- Outdated laws governing the management of species, and inadequate enforcement of those laws.
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Direct Causes of Genetic Erosion in Nigeria
Direct causes of genetic erosion are tied to agricultural activities and include:
- Bush burning
- Fuelwood collection
- Logging
- Grazing
5.Gathering.
The introduction of cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, cotton, groundnut, and oil palm into the farming systems since the 1900s greatly contributed to the deforestation of natural ecosystems.
For example, the land used for agriculture increased from 8.9 million hectares in 1951 to approximately 55.8 million hectares in 1995. This large-scale deforestation is a direct cause of biodiversity loss.
Wood accounts for about 85% of domestic energy use in Nigeria. Wood species with high calorific value, which are found mainly in the savanna and rainforest ecosystems, are often preferred. Consequently, the depletion of fuelwood species is most noticeable in these ecosystems.
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