Journal Article•
Biodiversity conservation in nigeria: contemporary challenges for ecologist
02 Oct 2016-International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies (ISSR Journals)-Vol. 18, Iss: 1, pp 331-340
TL;DR: A brief review of the methods of biodiversity conservation shows that protected area system is the main method for biodiversity conservation in Nigeria, although in some cases it is been supported by community-based conservation approach.
Abstract: This paper discuses biodiversity and its significance. It looked at the status of Nigeria's biodiversity and why it is important to conserve it. Importance of biodiversity in Nigeria includes the provision of food, medicines and industrial materials. It highlights the aim and types of biodiversity conservation. The text examines some approaches that in the author's opinion, will contribute significantly in complimenting the already existing approaches to biodiversity conservation in Nigeria. Among the factors that contribute to biodiversity loss are poverty, population growth, deforestation and habitat degradation. A brief review of the methods of biodiversity conservation shows that protected −area system is the main method of biodiversity conservation in Nigeria, although in some cases it is been supported by community-based conservation approach. Amidst this effort, biodiversity continued to be eroded; this called for ecologist working to conserve Nigeria's biodiversity to be involved more directly to augment the already existing conservation efforts. Priorities for ecologist thus include understanding the causal relationships between people and biodiversity, placing economic value on biodiversity and prioritizing target outcomes and indicators.
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01 Jan 2011
629 citations
01 Jan 1920
TL;DR: Markowitz and Rosner as discussed by the authors investigated the industry's efforts to conceal links between their products and cancer and found that Dow, Monsanto, Goodrich, Goodyear, Union Carbide and others have also recruited their own historian to argue that they engaged in unethical conduct.
Abstract: Twenty of the biggest chemical companies in the United States have launched a campaign to discredit two historians who have studied the industry's efforts to conceal links between their products and cancer. In an unprecedented move, attorneys for Dow, Monsanto, Goodrich, Goodyear, Union Carbide and others have subpoenaed and deposed five academics who recommended that the University of California Press publish the book Deceit and Denial: The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution, by Gerald Markowitz and David Rosner. The companies have also recruited their own historian to argue that Markowitz and Rosner have engaged in unethical conduct. Markowitz is a professor of history at the CUNY Grad Center; Rosner is a professor of history and public health at Columbia University and director of the Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health at Columbia's School of Public Health.
108 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a well-replicated field experiment, in which species diversity was directly controlled, to show that ecosystem productivity in 147 grassland plots increased significantly with plant biodiversity.
Abstract: THE functioning and sustainability of ecosystems may depend on their biological diversity1–8. Elton's9 hypothesis that more diverse ecosystems are more stable has received much attention1,3,6,7,10–14, but Darwin's proposal6,15 that more diverse plant communities are more productive, and the related conjectures4,5,16,17 that they have lower nutrient losses and more sustainable soils, are less well studied4–6,8,17,18. Here we use a well-replicated field experiment, in which species diversity was directly controlled, to show that ecosystem productivity in 147 grassland plots increased significantly with plant biodiversity. Moreover, the main limiting nutrient, soil mineral nitrogen, was utilized more completely when there was a greater diversity of species, leading to lower leaching loss of nitrogen from these ecosystems. Similarly, in nearby native grassland, plant productivity and soil nitrogen utilization increased with increasing plant species richness. This supports the diversity–productivity and diversity–sustainability hypotheses. Our results demonstrate that the loss of species threatens ecosystem functioning and sustainability.
2,541 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2004
2,526 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2002TL;DR: The FAO's latest assessment of the long-term outlook for the world's food supplies, nutrition and agriculture is presented in this paper, where the projections cover supply and demand for the major agricultural commodities and sectors, including fisheries and forestry.
Abstract: This report is FAO's latest assessment of the long-term outlook for the world's food supplies, nutrition and agriculture. It presents the projections and the main messages. The projections cover supply and demand for the major agricultural commodities and sectors, including fisheries and forestry. This analysis forms the basis for a more detailed examination of other factors, such as nutrition and undernourishment, and the implications for international trade. The report also investigates the implications of future supply and demand for the natural resource base and discusses how technology can contribute to more sustainable development.
One of the report's main findings is that, if no corrective action is taken, the target set by the World Food Summit in 1996 (that of halving the number of undernourished people by 2015) is not going to be met. Nothing short of a massive effort at improving the overall development performance will free the developing world of its most pressing food insecurity problems. The progress made towards this target depends on many factors, not least of which are political will and the mobilization of additional resources. Past experience underlines the crucial role of agriculture in the development process, particularly where the majority of the population still depends on this sector for employment and income.
1,643 citations
TL;DR: Overall, despite many remaining questions, current evidence indicates that preserving intact ecosystems and their endemic biodiversity should generally reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases.
Abstract: Current unprecedented declines in biodiversity reduce the ability of ecological communities to provide many fundamental ecosystem services. Here we evaluate evidence that reduced biodiversity affects the transmission of infectious diseases of humans, other animals and plants. In principle, loss of biodiversity could either increase or decrease disease transmission. However, mounting evidence indicates that biodiversity loss frequently increases disease transmission. In contrast, areas of naturally high biodiversity may serve as a source pool for new pathogens. Overall, despite many remaining questions, current evidence indicates that preserving intact ecosystems and their endemic biodiversity should generally reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases.
1,513 citations