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115-627: The Niger Delta swamp forests ecoregion covers a triangular territory at the mouth of the Niger River . The southern edge is set back about 10 km from the Gulf of Guinea , buffered by the Central African mangroves ecoregion where the effects of salt water are more pronounced. The western border of the ecoregion is formed along the Benin River , the northern tip is just north of the city of Aboh , and

230-534: A Ramsar site #1751 in 2008. Other common features of the Niger Delta ecosystem such as marshes, mangroves and freshwater swamps are also present in Apoi creek forest reserves. Apoi Creek forest reserves covers an area of about 29,213 hectares of land. or estimated to be approximately 190 km. The Apoi creek forest reserves was officially promulgated 1975. Apoi creek forest reserve is of considerable ecological importance and

345-406: A calculated area of about 9,324 hectares. The area is home to several oil and gas installations. Other activities going on in the area encompass construction, hunting, agricultural production including oil palm cultivation. The road connecting Ogbia to Nembe traverses Edumanon forest reserve. Edumanon Forest Reserve is home to some important wildlife species. A survey in 2006 identified the presence of

460-520: A diploid number of 2n = 32. The Asian effective population size is very limited. The cultivars comprising cultivation in Asia descend from only four trees, which are themselves probably the result of a selfing of one parent. Unlike other relatives, oil palms do not produce offshoots ; propagation is by sowing the seeds . Several varieties and forms of E. guineensis have been selected that have different characteristics. These include: Before

575-415: A given ecoregion are more similar to each other than to those of surrounding ecoregions and together form a conservation unit. Freshwater systems include rivers , streams , lakes , and wetlands . Freshwater ecoregions are distinct from terrestrial ecoregions, which identify biotic communities of the land, and marine ecoregions, which are biotic communities of the oceans. A map of Freshwater Ecoregions of

690-469: A holistic, "weight-of-evidence" approach where the importance of various factors may vary. An example of the algorithmic approach is Robert Bailey 's work for the U.S. Forest Service, which uses a hierarchical classification that first divides land areas into very large regions based on climatic factors, and subdivides these regions, based first on dominant potential vegetation, and then by geomorphology and soil characteristics. The weight-of-evidence approach

805-554: A loss of 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres) of E. guineensis near San Lorenzo in Ecuador . The protozoa cause bud rot (Spanish: pudrición del cogollo). In reaction, growers there replanted using a hybrid of E. guineensis and E. oleifera , the South American oil palm. Endophytic bacteria are organisms inhabiting plant organs that at some time in their life cycles can colonize the internal plant tissues without causing apparent harm to

920-444: A result of above mentioned factors, it has been observed that wildlife is freely killed and exhibited for sale within the surroundings of some of the reserves. An important factor orchestrating the decline in protected areas is bush burning. Latterly, there has been an increase in the rate of bush burning. Consequent upon the immoderate degradation resulting in loss of important forest resources, reserve areas were established to conserve

1035-509: A set of ecoregions identified by WWF whose conservation would achieve the goal of saving a broad diversity of the Earth's ecosystems, includes a number of areas highlighted for their freshwater biodiversity values. The Global 200 preceded Freshwater Ecoregions of the World and incorporated information from regional freshwater ecoregional assessments that had been completed at that time. Sources related to

1150-458: A significant problem. This problem apparently persisted for much of the 1980s, but in a 1991 comparison of seed sources, contamination had been reduced to below 2%, indicating control had been restored. A 1992 study at a trial plot in Banting , Selangor, revealed the "yield of Deli dura oil palms after four generations of selection was 60% greater than that of the unselected base population. Crossing

1265-439: A study that evaluated the floristic diversity and composition of sixteen one-hectare forest patches, 116 species from 82 genera and 36 families were discovered. Sites that were disturbed exhibited reduced species richness but greater species variety and stem density. The study highlights the necessity for species stability and biodiversity and stresses the significance of focused conservation in damaged areas. Approximately 67% of

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1380-432: A substantial reduction in their size. Ikibiri and Igbedi Creek have experienced the least amount of impact. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of significant protected areas in Niger Delta, spanning from 1987 to 2011 have been documented. In comparison to several other freshwater swamps in the Niger Delta, the degree of deterioration in the protected area is relatively minimal. Findings in 2014 also indicate that

1495-407: A web application developed by Resolve and Google Earth Engine. An ecoregion is a "recurring pattern of ecosystems associated with characteristic combinations of soil and landform that characterise that region". Omernik (2004) elaborates on this by defining ecoregions as: "areas within which there is spatial coincidence in characteristics of geographical phenomena associated with differences in

1610-485: A white rot involving lignin biodegradation, for integrated control. The existing literature does not report this area and appears to be concerned particularly with the mode of spread and molecular biology of Ganoderma . The white rot perception opens up new fields in breeding/selecting for resistant cultivars of oil palms with high lignin content, ensuring the conditions for lignin decomposition are reduced, and simply sealing damaged oil palms to stop decay. The spread likely

1725-475: Is a branch of the upper Nun River in the Niger Delta. Dredging is the common human impact or activity on the creek in the period between 2009 and 2011. Two-spotted civet ( Nandinia binotata )  have been sighted at Igbedi forest reserve in Bayelsa State. Expectedly, the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is home to diverse species of wildlife and vegetation. The presence of 28 species of amphibians associated with

1840-624: Is an important source of livelihood to the rural population  by provision of fuel wood, agricultural land and fisheries. Taylor creek is situated close to the vicinity of the Bayelsa state National park reserve. It is otherwise known as Taylor creek/Bayelsa state National park reserve. Taylor Creek forest reserve is a lowland (<35 meters below the sea level). It is bordered  by the following communities namely Biseni, Kaiama, Kalama, Odi, Zarama, Okordia, Odoni, and Ikarama. Taylor creek forest reserve covers an estimated area of about 220 km . It

1955-505: Is an overwhelming seasonal swamp forest shore of the Niger River that cut across a number of communities in both Bayelsa and Rivers State. Some lakes and creeks namely Oluku lake, Esiribi lake, Oruma, Oyulo, Asa, Egbegidi, Azari, Egbe, Opuzuno, Puro, Akpidetoru, Isemu, and Abaniigina) are situated throughout the length of the drainage system of Taylor Creek. Taylor Creek reserve area is susceptible to seasonal flooding because of its closeness to

2070-426: Is analogous to that used for terrestrial ecoregions. Major habitat types are identified: polar, temperate shelves and seas, temperate upwelling, tropical upwelling, tropical coral, pelagic (trades and westerlies), abyssal, and hadal (ocean trench). These correspond to the terrestrial biomes . The Global 200 classification of marine ecoregions is not developed to the same level of detail and comprehensiveness as that of

2185-480: Is another major factor that impacts forests and may influence deforestation. Causes of deforestation in the Niger delta region are diverse, multifaceted and includes; urbanization , quarrying , salt and salt extraction pollution from industries, agro–industrial chemicals , petroleum and gas exploitation, vacancy of appropriate legislation and enforcement. About 80% of Nigeria's over 2000 industrial establishment are cited in

2300-414: Is associated with its creation myth as the first tree that Ọbatala finds descending to earth; it is also believed as Ọrunmila 's axis mundi connecting heaven and earth. Thus, oil palm fronds often mark areas of sacred religious important or incorporated in traditional orisha garment; its kernels are also prepared to use as a tool of receiving Ọrunmila's words to the babalawo . In Cambodia, this palm

2415-422: Is by spores rather than roots. The knowledge gained can be employed in the rapid degradation of oil palm waste on the plantation floor by inoculating suitable fungi, and/or treating the waste more appropriately (e.g. chipping and spreading over the floor rather than windrowing). Markom et al. , 2009 developed and successfully used an electronic nose system for detection. Phytophthora palmivora has caused

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2530-420: Is deforestation. There has been an enlarging negative impact in forests and deforestation in the Niger Delta due to increasing population pressure on the natural environment, the desire for fertile agricultural land and the need for additional forest products and services to cater for the growing population and the need for industrial raw materials. thus ensuing in the destruction of forest and land resources in

2645-596: Is exemplified by James Omernik's work for the United States Environmental Protection Agency , subsequently adopted (with modification) for North America by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation . The intended purpose of ecoregion delineation may affect the method used. For example, the WWF ecoregions were developed to aid in biodiversity conservation planning, and place a greater emphasis than

2760-594: Is home to a lot of rare, unique and/or threatened species and is also a note able breeding and nursery ground for fisheries. The Apoi forest reserves is a sort of a castle for some endemic species such as the Niger Delta Red Colobus monkey ( Procolobus epieni ), Nigerian white-throated guenon ( Cercopithecus erythrogaster pococki including other primates namely the olive colobus. The presence of Niger Delta Red Colobus, Putty-nosed monkey, Red-capped mangabey have been noted in Apoi creek reserves forest particularly in

2875-408: Is made up nine oil – producing states viz; Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. These states contain more than 40 ethnic groups and have 185 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and inhabitants that speak about 250 different dialects. The Niger Delta region is amongst the highest hydrocarbon-rich regions on planet earth. Exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons started in

2990-486: Is monocotyledonous. Mature palms are single-stemmed and grow to 20 meters (66 ft) tall. The leaves are pinnate and reach 3–5 m (10– 16 + 1 ⁄ 2  ft) long. A young palm produces about 30 leaves a year. Established palms over 10 years produce about 20 leaves a year. The flowers are produced in dense clusters; each individual flower is small, with three sepals and three petals. The palm fruit takes 5–6 months to develop from pollination to maturity. It

3105-460: Is not available and full breeding programs are not ongoing as of 2015 . Basal stem rot is the most serious disease of oil palm in Malaysia and Indonesia. Previously, research on basal stem rot was hampered by the failure to artificially infect oil palms with the fungus. Although Ganoderma had been associated with BSR, proof of its pathogenicity to satisfy Koch's postulate was only achieved in

3220-425: Is obligately transmitted as the third juvenile stage by vectors , specifically several species of weevil. Unlike congener B. xylophilus there are not thought to be any non plant hosts to serve as reservoir hosts for infection of E. guineensis . Besides direct infestation of the palm, other nematodes infest the pollinating weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus , reducing pollination and yield. Because each tree

3335-526: Is optimal for all taxa. Ecoregions reflect the best compromise for as many taxa as possible. Secondly, ecoregion boundaries rarely form abrupt edges; rather, ecotones and mosaic habitats bound them. Thirdly, most ecoregions contain habitats that differ from their assigned biome . Biogeographic provinces may originate due to various barriers, including physical (plate tectonics, topographic highs), climatic (latitudinal variation, seasonal range) and ocean chemical related (salinity, oxygen levels). The history of

3450-620: Is processed for use as livestock feed. All modern, commercial planting material consists of tenera palms or DxP hybrids, which are obtained by crossing thickshelled dura with shell-less pisifera . Although common commercial germinated seed is as thick-shelled as the dura mother palm, the resulting palm will produce thin-shelled tenera fruit. An alternative to germinated seed, once constraints to mass production are overcome, are tissue-cultured or " clonal " palms, which provide true copies of high-yielding DxP palms. Size: 1,800 megabase . First sequence available in 2013. Diploid , with

3565-608: Is reddish, about the size of a large plum, and grows in large bunches. Each fruit is made up of an oily, fleshy outer layer (the pericarp), with a single seed (the palm kernel ), also rich in oil. When ripe, each bunch of fruit weighs between 5 and 30 kg (11 and 66 lb) depending on the age of the palm tree. For each hectare of oil palm, which is harvested year-round, the annual production averages 20 tonnes of fruit yielding 4,000 kg of palm oil and 750 kg of seed kernels yielding 500 kg of high-quality palm kernel oil, as well as 600 kg of kernel meal. Kernel meal

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3680-445: Is relatively big and has an individual value, information about its pest and disease status is valuable. Although visual inspection is the oldest method, others are under development or occasional use. Volatiles and microfocus X-ray fluorescence are two methods can be used to non-invasively detect pre-emergence Ganoderma orbiforme disease as a lab test. Sonic tomography is already in use with good results, at 96% accuracy. On

3795-599: The Himalayas and the Sahara . The boundaries of ecoregions are often not as decisive or well recognized, and are subject to greater disagreement. Ecoregions are classified by biome type, which are the major global plant communities determined by rainfall and climate. Forests, grasslands (including savanna and shrubland), and deserts (including xeric shrublands ) are distinguished by climate ( tropical and subtropical vs. temperate and boreal climates) and, for forests, by whether

3910-477: The habitat loss of the delta. The region is confronted with issues such as expanding human populations, political instability, conflicts, and unsustainable resource extraction. While about 8% of the ecoregion is nominally under some form of administrative protection, most such territory is in forest reserves subject to heavy logging pressure due to economic growth and social development. Expectedly, Nigeria has several national parks and conservation areas but lately,

4025-450: The "ecoregion" as a unit of analysis. The " Global 200 " is the list of ecoregions identified by WWF as priorities for conservation . Terrestrial ecoregions are land ecoregions, as distinct from freshwater and marine ecoregions. In this context, terrestrial is used to mean "of land" (soil and rock), rather than the more general sense "of Earth " (which includes land and oceans). WWF (World Wildlife Fund) ecologists currently divide

4140-480: The African palm pollinating weevil . Chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) are known to use stones to crack open the nuts of E. guineensis , a rare example of tool use by animals . Grey parrots ( Psittacus erithacus ) are known to prefer oil palm fruit in the wild. One of their chief predators, the palm-nut vulture ( Gypohierax angolensis ), also heavily depends on oil palm fruit for its diet, making up over 60% of

4255-558: The Earth. The use of the term ecoregion is an outgrowth of a surge of interest in ecosystems and their functioning. In particular, there is awareness of issues relating to spatial scale in the study and management of landscapes . It is widely recognized that interlinked ecosystems combine to form a whole that is "greater than the sum of its parts". There are many attempts to respond to ecosystems in an integrated way to achieve "multi-functional" landscapes, and various interest groups from agricultural researchers to conservationists are using

4370-680: The Forcados estuary resulting in massive pollution of the aquatic environment and surrounding swamp forest. Starting from January 17 to January 30, 1980, the Funiwa No. 5 Well in Funiwa Field discharged about 421,000 barrels of oil into the Atlantic Ocean. At the end of the spillage, 836 acres of mangrove forest within six miles off shore was polluted and the ecosystem destroyed. According to UNDP 2006:181 about 3 million barrels of oil were discharged into

4485-767: The NN producing the best results. As of 2012 R. indica was invading the Yucatan placing 11 states of Mexico under phytosanitary vigilance . R. ferrugineus has placed 13 states of Mexico under phytosanitary vigilance. Other arthropods include: Bagworm moths (the Psychidae family), the coconut rhinoceros beetle ( Oryctes rhinoceros ), Rhynchophorus palmarum (the South American palm weevil), Tirathaba mundella (the oil palm bunch moth), and Tirathaba rufivena (the coconut spike moth). Besides direct damage to plant material, rats also predate on Elaeidobius kamerunicus ,

4600-578: The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria have been observed. The habitance of endemic and threatened primates species consisting of endemic Sclater's guenon ( Cercopithecus sclateri ), Nigerian white-throated guenon ( Cercopithecus erythrogaster pococki ), red-capped mangabey ( Cercocebus torquatus ) and the endangered Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ellioti) are prevalent in the Niger Delta Region . Endemic mammals notably Heslop's pygmy hippopotamus ( Hexaprotodon liberiensisheslopi ) are now extinct in

4715-597: The Niger Delta environment through 6,817 oil spill occurrences in the period between 1976 and 2001. Gas flaring has been on going in the Niger Delta for decades. According to the Energetic Solution Conference (2004), the Niger Delta region has about 123 gas flaring sites resulting in Nigeria being one of the highest emitter of green house gases in Africa. Emissions of carbon dioxide in the Niger Delta rank amongst

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4830-490: The Niger Delta region on account of poor administration of the protected area, lack of proper conservation and management strategies. Although Niger Delta boasts a multitude of freshwater ecosystems, the primary forest reserves within the region consist of Taylor Creek, Apoi Creek , Nun River , Edumanon , Ikibiri Creek , and Igbedi Creek . Considering the percentage of loss, it is evident that Edumanon and Nun River forest reserves have been significantly affected, resulting in

4945-439: The Niger Delta wetland include oil and gas exploration and exploitation, excessive logging, and bush burning . Important forest products namely fuel wood, timber, medicinal plants, wildlife, food are the substantial source of forest products and services. and extreme utilization leads to degradation and deforestation of the natural ecosystem of the Niger Delta region. There are many consequences for enlarging rate of deforestation on

5060-454: The Niger Delta. Traditionally, Niger Delta Swamp forests avails beneficial services to the local inhabitants, national and the international community. Due to social and economic considerations as a result of quest for livelihood and subsistence there has been a great stress on the environment leading to degradation and deforestation of the swamp forest ecosystem of the Niger Delta. Most common cause of environmental degradation and deforestation in

5175-423: The Niger delta region resulting in the deforestation of the mangrove forest in the region. Study by Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) in 2006 indicate that the total population of the region was over 28 million people making the Niger Delta region one of the highest population dense region in Nigeria. These pipelines run through the rainforest and mangroves with occasional leakage and unintended discharges into

5290-458: The North to Palm Point (4°16′22″ N and 6°05′27″ E) Bayelsa State in the south. The east–west boundary lies between Benin or Ethiope River estuary (5°44′11″ N and 5°3′49″ E) Delta State in the west and Imo River estuary (4°27′16″ N and 7°35′27″ E) Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State to the east. The Niger Delta is built up from silt deposits from the Niger River. The landscape is flat with meandering branches of

5405-547: The Omernik or Bailey systems on floral and faunal differences between regions. The WWF classification defines an ecoregion as: A large area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural communities that: According to WWF, the boundaries of an ecoregion approximate the original extent of the natural communities prior to any major recent disruptions or changes. WWF has identified 867 terrestrial ecoregions, and approximately 450 freshwater ecoregions across

5520-821: The River Niger. Three distinct habitat can be located in Taylor creek reserve including seasonally flooded freshwater swamp forests which are distinguished by Raphia hookeri (Raphia palm), Mitragyna ciliata (Abura), Nauclea diderrichii (Opepe), Khaya ivorensis (Mahogany), Irvingia gabonensis (African bush mango), Eleais guineensis (Oil palm), Musanga cecropoides (Umbrella tree) amidst more such as ferns, epiphytes and macrophytes; riparian forests distinguished by thick and fully grown high canopy around Karama, Adibawa and Biseni, and derived savanna forest located at Nyambiri Zarama. The existence of 27 species of mammals, 34 species of reptiles and 10 species of amphibians were observed in

5635-583: The Second World War, selection work had started in the Deli dura population in Malaya. Pollen was imported from Africa, and DxT and DxP crosses were made. Segregation of fruit forms in crosses made in the 1950s was often incorrect. In the absence of a good marker gene, there was no way of knowing whether control of pollination was adequate. After the work of Beirnaert and Vanderweyen (1941), it became feasible to monitor

5750-498: The WWC scheme: Others: Elaeis guineensis Elaeis guineensis is a species of palm commonly just called oil palm but also sometimes African oil palm or macaw-fat . The first Western person to describe it and bring back seeds was the French naturalist Michel Adanson . It is native to west and southwest Africa, specifically the area between Angola and The Gambia ;

5865-560: The WWF concept prioritizes biogeography, that is, the distribution of distinct species assemblages. In 2017, an updated terrestrial ecoregions dataset was released in the paper "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm" led by E. Dinerstein with 48 co-authors. Using recent advances in satellite imagery the ecoregion perimeters were refined and the total number reduced to 846 (and later 844), which can be explored on

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5980-519: The World (TEOW), led by D. Olsen, E. Dinerstein, E. Wikramanayake, and N. Burgess. While the two approaches are related, the Bailey ecoregions (nested in four levels) give more importance to ecological criteria and climate zones, while the WWF ecoregions give more importance to biogeography, that is, the distribution of distinct species assemblages. The TEOW framework originally delineated 867 terrestrial ecoregions nested into 14 major biomes, contained with

6095-783: The World, released in 2008, has 426 ecoregions covering virtually the entire non-marine surface of the earth. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) identifies twelve major habitat types of freshwater ecoregions: Large lakes, large river deltas, polar freshwaters, montane freshwaters, temperate coastal rivers, temperate floodplain rivers and wetlands, temperate upland rivers, tropical and subtropical coastal rivers, tropical and subtropical floodplain rivers and wetlands, tropical and subtropical upland rivers, xeric freshwaters and endorheic basins, and oceanic islands. The freshwater major habitat types reflect groupings of ecoregions with similar biological, chemical, and physical characteristics and are roughly equivalent to biomes for terrestrial systems. The Global 200 ,

6210-478: The adult bird's diet and over 90% of the juvenile bird's diet (along with Raffia palm ). Bursaphelenchus cocophilus is a nematode pest which is better known for infecting coconut palms. (It also afflicts a few other of the Arecaceae .) It causes "red ring disease", so named because it produces a red colored layer within the trunk of the tree, which looks like a red ring in a cross section cut. B. cocophilus

6325-507: The area. Also the existence of two-spotted civet ( Nandinia binotata ) in the Taylor creek Forest Reserve, Bayelsa State have been observed. Nun river forest reserve is located in the tropical rainforest which is distinguished by multi-faceted vegetation, torrential rains and periodic or seasonal flooding. The Nun river forest encloses about 97.15 km. It is otherwise publicly known as Wilberforce Island. The presence of several species of mammals, avian fauna and reptiles have been observed in

6440-513: The area. Earlier, the Nun river forest used to be habitation for elephant ( Loxondonta africana ), African buffalos ( Syncerus coffa ) and Pygmy hippos ( Hexaprotodon liberiensis ) which however have not been seen in the area for over three decades. Ikibiri Creek forest reserve is located in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region. It is reach in forest resources which includes timber products, medicinal plants, ornamentals plants, and wildlife. Unfortunately,

6555-480: The authors was to support global biodiversity conservation by providing a "fourfold increase in resolution over that of the 198 biotic provinces of Dasmann (1974) and the 193 units of Udvardy (1975)." In 2007, a comparable set of Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW) was published, led by M. Spalding, and in 2008 a set of Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (FEOW) was published, led by R. Abell. Bailey's ecoregion concept prioritizes ecological criteria and climate, while

6670-737: The beauty and conservation of the natural vegetation). However, despite the enactment of these laws and legislations, the exploitation of forest resources including in the protected areas is still on the increase rendering the laws and legislation ineffective in conservation of threatened forest resources. It has been observed that wildlife species that are under the protection of the federal law Act 11, Schedule I (namely Atherurus africanus , Tragelaphus spekei , Hyemoschus aquaticus , Neotragus batesi , Aonyx capensis , Manis tricuspis , Uromanis tetradactyla ) and Schedule II (viz; Genetta sp., Nandinia binotata , Viverra civetta , and different Cercopithecus species) are openly traded in

6785-452: The biodiversity of the Niger Delta ecosystem, consequent upon the negative impact on the ecosystem, the biodiversity of the region is threatened while some others are already extinct. Additionally, diverse land use namely construction works, urbanization, industrialization and forest reserve degradation which encompasses excessive exploitation of wildlife, illegal poaching, logging and bush burning are major cause of decline of protected areas. As

6900-677: The broad latitudinal divisions of polar, temperate, and tropical seas, with subdivisions based on ocean basins (except for the southern hemisphere temperate oceans, which are based on continents). Major marine biogeographic realms, analogous to the eight terrestrial biogeographic realms , represent large regions of the ocean basins: Arctic , Temperate Northern Atlantic , Temperate Northern Pacific , Tropical Atlantic , Western Indo-Pacific , Central Indo-Pacific , Eastern Indo-Pacific , Tropical Eastern Pacific , Temperate South America , Temperate Southern Africa , Temperate Australasia , and Southern Ocean . A similar system of identifying areas of

7015-440: The coastal regions including Lagos, Port Harcourt and other locations in the Niger delta. Industries sited in the coastal region and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria include oil and gas, petrochemical fertilizer plant, aluminum smelting plant, food, plastics, pharmaceuticals, cement, brewing and wood pulp and paper. Due to the industrial establishments in the coastal and Niger delta region, large human population live and work in

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7130-510: The conservation and protected areas are in serious contracting trajectory as a result of deforestation and conversion of forest resources to non forest use. Some of the protected areas in the Niger Delta Region include: The last sighting of chimpanzee some decades ago in the Niger Delta Region was at the Edumanon Forest Reserve. Edumanon forest reserve includes part of old Nembe and Brass local government areas in Bayelsa State. It has

7245-551: The conservation council to formulate and implement policies to address forestry, fisheries, wildlife, soil and water conservation), Federal Environmental Protection Agency Act (Chapter 131, Laws of the Federation, 1990) established to enhance conservation of natural resources through strict environmental policies, the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (No. 86 of 1992) (to ensure environmental impacts assessment on

7360-401: The delineation of ecoregions an imperfect science. Another complication is that environmental conditions across an ecoregion boundary may change very gradually, e.g. the prairie-forest transition in the midwestern United States, making it difficult to identify an exact dividing boundary. Such transition zones are called ecotones . Ecoregions can be categorized using an algorithmic approach or

7475-579: The deterioration of these protected areas is more pronounced when they are situated in proximity to major expressways. Consequently, the reduction in size observed in Apoi Creek and Ikibiri Creek is relatively minimal, likely attributed to their remote and less accessible locations. In contrast, Nun River Forest Reserve, Edumanon (connected to Ogbia and Nembe via a major road), and Taylor Creek/Bayelsa State National Park experience more substantial shrinkage, possibly due to their proximity to significant roads such as

7590-413: The distribution of water and other nutrients to the top of the palm. Ganoderma infection is well defined by its lesion in the stem. The cross-section of infected palm stem shows that the lesion appears as a light brown area of rotting tissue with a distinctive, irregularly shaped, darker band at the borders of this area. The infected tissue become as an ashen-grey powdery and if the palm remains standing,

7705-471: The driest month. This climate is in the middle of a tropical savannah and a tropical rainforest. The rainy season runs from March–April to October. Precipitation ranges from 2,500 mm/year in the north to 4,000 mm/year along the coast in the south. Relative humidity is 90–100% for most of the year. Degradation is putting freshwater marsh forests in the Niger basin in danger, so it's important to comprehend their composition, distribution, and trends. In

7820-460: The dura and pisifera to give the thin-shelled tenera fruit type improved partitioning of dry matter within the fruit, giving a 30% increase in oil yield at the expense of shell, without changing total dry matter production." Cros et al. , 2014 find genomic selection is very effective in this crop. In 2013, the gene responsible for controlling shell thickness was discovered, making it possible to verify tenera (DxP) status while palms are still in

7935-405: The early 1970s, the term 'ecoregion' was introduced (short for ecological region), and R.G. Bailey published the first comprehensive map of U.S. ecoregions in 1976. The term was used widely in scholarly literature in the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2001 scientists at the U.S. conservation organization World Wildlife Fund (WWF) codified and published the first global-scale map of Terrestrial Ecoregions of

8050-401: The early 1990s by inoculating oil palm seedling roots or by using rubber wood blocks. A reliable and quick technique was developed for testing the pathogenicity of the fungus by inoculating oil palm germinated seeds. This fatal disease can lead to losses as much as 80% after repeated planting cycles. Ganoderma produces enzymes that degrade the infected xylem, thus causing serious problems to

8165-560: The eastern edge runs along the Imo River . The city of Port Harcourt is in the southeast corner of the ecoregion. The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is located along the Gulf of Guinea. It is the largest delta in Africa and the third largest delta in the world and also the most extensive marshland in West and Central Africa. The region spans from Aboh (5°33′49″ N and 6°31′38″ E) Ndokwa East, Delta State in

8280-729: The ecoregion is covered in closed forest, mostly broadleaf evergreen . Another 13% is open forest, 8% herbaceous wetland, 5% urban or built up, 3% under agricultural cultivation, and the remainder permanent and seasonal water. The abura ( Hallea ledermannii ) tree, formerly common, has mostly been logged out of the delta. Common trees in the flood forest include Oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis ), Azobe tree ( Lophira alata ), African nutmeg ( Pycnanthus angolensis ), Ricinodendron heudelotii , Hallea ledermannii , Flatcrown tree ( Albizia adianthifolia ), Wild mango ( Irvingia gabonensis ), ( Klainedoxa gabonensis ), ( Treculia africana ), and species of ( Ficus ). The delta's three zones are

8395-436: The efficacy of controlled pollination. From 1963 until the introduction of the palm-pollinating weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus in 1982, contamination in Malaysia's commercial plantings was generally low. Thrips, the main pollinating agent at that time, apparently rarely gained access to bagged female inflorescences. However, E. kamerunicus is much more persistent, and after it was introduced, Deli dura contamination became

8510-471: The endangered Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee in the Edumanom Forest Reserve and Ologbo Forest Reserve in the region. Niger Delta Region has 2 Ramsar-listed coastal and freshwater wetlands; Apoi creek forest reserve and Upper Urashi. Notably, there are a total of 11 Ramsar-listed coastal and freshwater wetlands in Nigeria covering about 1,076,730 hectares. Apoi Creek forest reserve was earmarked as

8625-449: The environment . Mangroves are intricate intertidal forest that grow at the intersection within dry land and open sea in tropical regions and is the source of huge biological and none living resources. Nigeria's mangrove forest is located in the Niger delta region and is arguably the most exploited mangrove forest in the world. The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has a land mass of about 70000 km² representing 7.5% of Nigeria's land mass. It

8740-506: The environment before execution of project that may impact on the environment), Endangered species (control of international trade and traffic) Act 11 of 1985 (to ensure conservation of wildlife and rare and endangered species through prohibition of hunting, capture, or trading of any of the 91 animals species that are classified under endangered wildlife and listed in schedules 1 and 2) and National Parks Decree (Decree No. 36 of 1991) (ensure protective habitat for wildlife species and preserve

8855-438: The environment resulting in further degradation and deforestation of the ecosystem In the Niger Delta region, the reasons for deforestation have been mainly attributed to crude oil exploration and pollution, population increase , urban development , and agricultural production . The human desire for social, economic and cultural development may negatively impact the environmental resources. The result of this negative impact

8970-459: The family Bufonidae (genera Bufo and Nectophryne ), Pipidae ( Silurana and Hymenochirus ), Ranidae ( Hylarana , Ptychadena , Aubria , Conraua , Hoplobatrachus , and Phrynobatrachus ), Arthroleptidae ( Arthroleptis ), Rhacophoridae ( Chiromantis ), Microhylidae ( Phrynomantis ), and Hyperoliidae ( Hyperolius , Afrixalus , Leptopelis , Phlyctimantis , and Opisthothylax ) from six localities in

9085-466: The flaring site, destroys mangrove swamps and salt marshes, inhibits the growth and flowering of some plants, causes soil degradation , deforestation and reduces agricultural productivity . Acid rain is another cause of degradation and deforestation within the Niger Delta region resulting from gas flaring which has led to loss of biodiversity and culminating in destruction of forest and economic crops. The appearance of grasses and shrubs in some parts of

9200-429: The glasshouse for their efficacy in enhancing growth and subsequent suppression of the spread of BSR in oil palm seedlings. Little leaf syndrome has not been fully explained, but has often been confused with boron deficiency. The growing point is damaged, sometimes by Oryctes beetles. Small, distorted leaves resembling those due to a boron deficiency emerge. This is often followed by secondary pathogenic infections in

9315-507: The habitat. To this effect various species are protected by Nigerian Federal, State and Local government laws which were enacted to ensure the conservation and protection of the environment. This notwithstanding, some species are still traded openly in Nigerian markets. There are subsisting laws and legislation on conservation of natural resources in Nigeria. These laws and legislation include the national resources conservation act 1989 (established

9430-410: The highest in the world. About 1.8 billion cubic feet of gas is flared everyday in the Niger Delta resulting in a discharge of about 45.8 billion kilowatts of heat into the atmosphere. The temperature of the Niger Delta region has been raised as a result of gas flaring rendering vast area of the environment destroyed and uninhabitable. Out of a total of about 125.5 million cubic meters of gas produced in

9545-604: The host. Introducing endophytic bacteria to the roots to control plant disease is to manipulate the indigenous bacterial communities of the roots in a manner, which leads to enhanced suppression of soil-borne pathogens. The use of endophytic bacteria should thus be preferred to other biological control agents, as they are internal colonizers, with better ability to compete within the vascular systems, limiting Ganoderma for both nutrients and space during its proliferation. Two bacterial isolates, Burkholderia cepacia (B3) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P3) were selected for evaluation in

9660-482: The infected trunk rapidly becomes hollow. In a 2007 study in Portugal, scientists suggested control of the fungus on oil palms would benefit from further consideration of the process as one of white rot. Ganoderma is an extraordinary organism capable exclusively of degrading lignin to carbon dioxide and water; celluloses are then available as nutrients for the fungus. It is necessary to consider this mode of attack as

9775-690: The introduced population was not too inbred , and inbreeding depression was not the cause of some incidences of lessened fruit set in SEA. Other causes have been proposed. E. kamerunicus and the pollination it provides can be negatively affected by nematodes . Worldwide the two most impactful diseases are Ganoderma orbiforme (syn. Ganoderma boninense , basal stem rot, BSR, reviewed by Chong et al. , 2017 ) and Phytophthora palmivora (bud rot, reviewed by Torres et al. 2016 ). The earliest stages of data gathering and investigation have been performed for disease resistance breeding however propagation material

9890-501: The land surface of the Earth into eight biogeographical realms containing 867 smaller terrestrial ecoregions (see list ). The WWF effort is a synthesis of many previous efforts to define and classify ecoregions. The eight realms follow the major floral and faunal boundaries, identified by botanists and zoologists, that separate the world's major plant and animal communities. Realm boundaries generally follow continental boundaries, or major barriers to plant and animal distribution, like

10005-514: The local biodiversity of the environment. Seismic exploration of oil by oil companies entails clearing of seismic lines, use of dynamite in excavation which results in deforestation and degradation of the environment. Installation of oil and gas pipeline is required for distribution of crude oil and gas to desired locations. About 7,000 km of pipeline have been installed in the Niger Delta region. Construction and installation of these pipelines entail clearing enormous amount of habitat to make way for

10120-545: The main river. The Niger Delta is made up of various networks of rivers and creeks mostly distributaries of the Niger River. The soils of the delta vary by the shifting rivers and creeks, with sand and loam marking the remains of old levees, water-logged heavy clay in the backswamps behind the levees, and silty loam and clay on the higher ground. Niger delta can be delineated into four different ecological zones:  namely mangrove forest, freshwater swamp forest, lowland rain forest and other vegetation occasioned by human impact on

10235-554: The mangroves, lowland rainforest and freshwater forest. Economic growth and social development are the cause of enlarging demand for resources causing man to adopt measures that may negatively impact the natural environment and biodiversity. Such measures include clearing the forest for infrastructure development , food production and mining . Geographical considerations such as closeness to roads and settlements, soil fertility , rainfall, mineral deposits and population are also reasons for human impact on forests. Government policy

10350-399: The markets Forest is defined as a land ranging more than 0.5 hectares containing trees that are higher than 5m with a dense upper layer of foliage also called canopy cover of 10%. Deforestation is simply defined as prolonged reduction of tree foliage cover to less than ten percent minimum threshold. Deforestation in Nigeria appear in the dominant ecological zones of the Niger Delta namely

10465-415: The middle backswamp area, the eastern delta flank, and the flood forest. Although there is a limited diversity of faunal species in the delta, new species have been discovered recently. It is unknown which plants are native to the delta, despite the unusual floral ensemble. The development of roads and canals, the finding of petroleum, and the felling of abura, a valuable timber species, have all contributed to

10580-553: The most reproductive ecosystem and is rich in flora and fauna. In the last 50 years, about 9 million – 13 million (1.5 million metric tons) of oil have been discharged in to the Niger Delta ecosystem as a result of crude oil production and distribution. Some notable instances of oil spillage in the Niger Delta Region ecosystem include the July 1979 Forcados tank 6 Terminal in Delta State which spilled 570,000 barrels of oil into

10695-639: The nursery. The DEFICIENS gene regulates floral architecture . One of its epialleles , Bad Karma , reduces yield. E. guineensis is almost entirely pollinated by insects and not by wind. Elaeidobius kamerunicus is the most specially adapted pollination partner in Africa. It has been deliberately introduced into southeast Asia in 1981 and the results have been dramatic – Cik Mohd Rizuan et al., 2013 find good results in Felda Sahabat  [ my ] in Sabah . Contrary to earlier speculation,

10810-463: The oceans for conservation purposes is the system of large marine ecosystems (LMEs), developed by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A freshwater ecoregion is a large area encompassing one or more freshwater systems that contains a distinct assemblage of natural freshwater communities and species. The freshwater species, dynamics, and environmental conditions within

10925-842: The one leading to Niger Delta University and Bayelsa International Airport. The primary effects on the protected area are primarily deforestation and degradation. It was noted that Taylor Creek is the most affected among the protected areas in Niger Delta Commonly, biodiversity entails diverse species of living organisms (viz: plants, animals, microbes) found on earth regardless of the environment (arboreal, aquatic and terrestrial). Environmental degradation and deforestation have greatly affected biodiversity resources. It has been observed that pollution, hypertrophication , soil acidification , heavy metals , thermal pollution , nuclear pollution , oil and gas pollution and human pollutants are major contaminants responsible for biodiversity decline in

11040-610: The other hand satellite imagery and computer vision has low classification accuracy as to severity. Oil palms were introduced to Java by the Dutch in 1848, and to Malaysia (then the British colony of Malaya ) in 1910 by Scotsman William Sime and English banker Henry Darby. The species of palm tree Elaeis guineensis was taken to Malaysia from Eastern Nigeria in 1961. As noted it originally grew in West Africa. The southern coast of Nigeria

11155-401: The pipelines for distribution of crude oil and gas to desired locations. These pipelines run through the rainforest and mangroves with occasional leakage and unintended discharges into the environment resulting in further degradation and deforestation of the ecosystem. Majority  of the occurrence of known and disclosed oil spillages happened in the mangrove swamp forest, which is arguably

11270-430: The probability of encountering different species and communities at any given point remains relatively constant, within an acceptable range of variation (largely undefined at this point). Ecoregions are also known as "ecozones" ("ecological zones"), although that term may also refer to biogeographic realms . Three caveats are appropriate for all bio-geographic mapping approaches. Firstly, no single bio-geographic framework

11385-415: The quality, health, and integrity of ecosystems ". "Characteristics of geographical phenomena" may include geology , physiography , vegetation, climate, hydrology , terrestrial and aquatic fauna , and soils, and may or may not include the impacts of human activity (e.g. land use patterns, vegetation changes). There is significant, but not absolute, spatial correlation among these characteristics, making

11500-418: The region between 1970 and 1986, about 102.3 (81.7%) million cubic meters were flared. In 2004, the gas pipeline belonging to Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company that cut across through Kala-Akama, Okrika mangrove forest leaked and burnt the environment for three days. The ecosystem of the area was engulfed in fire and was completely destroyed. The heat emitted by gas flaring destroys vegetation surrounding

11615-595: The region in 1957 with discovery of oil at Oloibiri in River State and has since been going on till date (2023). The ecoregion has a tropical monsoon climate , according to the Köppen climate classification (Am). This climate is characterized by a distinct dry season and rather constant temperatures throughout the year, with the average temperature of each month above 18 °C (64 °F). Less than 60 mm, but more than (100-(average/25) mm, of precipitation fall during

11730-806: The region is a confirmation of loss of natural forest due to acid rain. However, other factors such as agricultural activities and oil exploration and exploitation also cause loss of natural forest. Ecoregion An ecoregion ( ecological region ) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion , which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm . Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural communities and species . The biodiversity of flora , fauna and ecosystems that characterise an ecoregion tends to be distinct from that of other ecoregions. In theory, biodiversity or conservation ecoregions are relatively large areas of land or water where

11845-560: The region. Land degradation involves soil erosion and fertility degeneration. This results in reduction in the usability of the land for agricultural production. requiring the clearing of more forest land for agricultural production. Increase in urban areas which include buildings, roads, construction sites, industrial establishments, public utilities and other infrastructural facilities accounted for an estimated area of mangrove swamp forest of 185.7 square kilometres (71.7 sq mi) out of 3,459 square kilometres (1,336 sq mi) of

11960-414: The reserve like other reserves in the Niger Delta region is on the shrinkage trajectory due to some social and economical, developmental and administrative reasons. Igbedi creek forest reserve is situated in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The reserve is popularly known and spelled as Igbedi creek forest reserve. However, it is also referred to as Egbedi creek forest reserve. Igbedi creek

12075-794: The spear that can lead to spear rot and palm death. Cadang-cadang disease is a viral disease that also infects coconuts . Red ring disease is caused by Bursaphelenchus cocophilus , see §Nematode pests below. Besides direct damage to plant material, insects are also vectors of oil palm diseases. M. plana is a Lepidopteran moth and a major pest of oil palms in Malaysia . M. plana outbreaks in Malaysia are highly correlated with relative humidity . Relative humidity estimates based on satellite remote sensing data were fed into both regression models and neural networks . The predictions of both were found to be closely correlated with actual M. plana appearance on plantations, with

12190-652: The species name, guineensis , refers to the name for the area called Guinea , and not the modern country Guinea now bearing that name. The species is also now naturalised in Madagascar , Sri Lanka , Malaysia , Indonesia , Central America , Cambodia , the West Indies , and several islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans . The closely related American oil palm E. oleifera and a more distantly related palm, Attalea maripa , are also used to produce palm oil. E. guineensis

12305-408: The term is somewhat vague. It has been used in many contexts: forest classifications (Loucks, 1962), biome classifications (Bailey, 1976, 2014), biogeographic classifications ( WWF / Global 200 scheme of Olson & Dinerstein, 1998), etc. The phrase "ecological region" was widely used throughout the 20th century by biologists and zoologists to define specific geographic areas in research. In

12420-454: The terrestrial ecoregions; only the priority conservation areas are listed. See Global 200 Marine ecoregions for a full list of marine ecoregions. In 2007, TNC and WWF refined and expanded this scheme to provide a system of comprehensive near shore (to 200 meters depth) Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW). The 232 individual marine ecoregions are grouped into 62 marine provinces , which in turn group into 12 marine realms , which represent

12535-401: The total mangrove forest studied. A study of the interlink between various sectors of the economy on the rate of deforestation indicate that the  export of forest products, fuelwood consumption and agricultural production and affiliated industries directly increase deforestation in the country. Every facet of oil exploration and exploitation has a negative impact on the ecosystem and

12650-913: The trees are predominantly conifers ( gymnosperms ), or whether they are predominantly broadleaf ( Angiosperms ) and mixed (broadleaf and conifer). Biome types like Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ; tundra ; and mangroves host very distinct ecological communities, and are recognized as distinct biome types as well. Marine ecoregions are: "Areas of relatively homogeneous species composition , clearly distinct from adjacent systems….In ecological terms, these are strongly cohesive units, sufficiently large to encompass ecological or life history processes for most sedentary species." They have been defined by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to aid in conservation activities for marine ecosystems . Forty-three priority marine ecoregions were delineated as part of WWF's Global 200 efforts. The scheme used to designate and classify marine ecoregions

12765-548: The vicinity of Gbanraun, Kokologbene, Ukubie. The International Union for Conservation of Nature  have classified Procolobus epieni to be 'alarmingly endangered' and is currently reported to be one of the world's 25 most endangered primates. Economic and social activities impact negatively on Apoi creek forest reserves resulting in the  shrinkage of the area. These activities are namely hunting, logging, installation of oil and gas exploration and exploitation facilities through canalization. Apoi creek forest reserves resources

12880-486: The world's 8 major biogeographical realms. Subsequent regional papers by the co-authors covering Africa, Indo-Pacific, and Latin America differentiate between ecoregions and bioregions, referring to the latter as "geographic clusters of ecoregions that may span several habitat types, but have strong biogeographic affinities, particularly at taxonomic levels higher than the species level (genus, family)". The specific goal of

12995-703: Was domesticated in West Africa along the south-facing Atlantic coast. There is insufficient documentation and as of 2019 insufficient research to make any guesses as to when this occurred. Human use of oil palms may date as far back as 5,000 years in Egypt; in the late 1800s, archaeologists discovered palm oil in a tomb at Abydos, Egypt dating back to 3000 BCE . It is the principal source of palm oil . Oil palms can produce much more oil per unit of land area than most other oil-producing plants (about nine times more than soy and 4.5 times more than rapeseed ). E. guineensis

13110-540: Was introduced as a decorative plant in public gardens, its Khmer name is dôô:ng préing (doong=palm, preing=oil). In Malaysia, the first plantations were mostly established and operated by British plantation owners, such as Sime Darby and Boustead , and remained listed in London until the Malaysian government engineered their "Malaysianisation" throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Federal Land Development Authority (Felda)

13225-567: Was originally called the Palm oil coast by the first Europeans who arrived there and traded in the commodity. This area was later renamed the Bight of Biafra. In traditional African medicine different parts of the plant are used as laxative and diuretic , as a poison antidote, as a cure for gonorrhea , menorrhagia , and bronchitis , to treat headaches and rheumatism , to promote healing of fresh wounds and treat skin infections. In Yoruba religion , it

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