IMPACTS OF EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES ON THE
BIODIVERSITY OF THE NIGER DELTA REGION,
NIGERIA.
BY
ZABBEY, NENIBARINI
Head, Conservation Programme,
Center for Environment,
Human Rights and Development (CEHRD),
6, Obo Nwanboke Street, Post Office Building,
P. O. Box 590,Ogale-Nchia, Eleme,
Rivers State, Nigeria.
E-mail; nigerdeltaproject@yahoo.com
www.cehrd.org
PAPER PRESENTED AT
A 3-Day National Workshop on Coastal
and Marine Biodiversity Management
Holding in Pyramid Hotel, Calabar,
Cross-River State.
7-9 September, 2004
Jointly Organised by
Akpabuyo Bakassi Green Movement (Agremo),
Calabar and Special Unit for Technical
Co-Operation among Development Countries
of UNDP (SU/TCDC/UNDP).
© Copyright 2004 by CEHRD. All rights reserved, in accordance with the World Trade Organization
(WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs). Readers may make
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IMPACTS OF EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES ON THE
BIODIVERSITY OF THE NIGER DELTA REGION,
NIGERIA
INTRODUCTION
For any material or substance to qualify to be called a resource, such
item must be physically and technically accessible to man with
attendant uses. This implies that naturally endowed resources, be it
renewable and non-renewable are destined to be used by man.
The Niger Delta basin, though just about 2% of the total area of
Nigeria, is endowed with abundant natural resources. These include
oil and natural gas, sand and gravel and rich biological diversity
among others. Granted, the Niger Delta as fragile as it is has become
the hub of extractive and related industries. The activities of these
companies have tremendous impact on the health of ecosystems and
biodiversity of the area (Niger Delta). Some techniques presently
employed by the companies presuppose that degradation of the
environment is inevitable. However, there are aspects of the
industrial processes causing pollution and loss of biodiversity, which
are avoidable, but, allowed to thrive due to environmental
negligence, disrespect for biodiversity and lack of political will (laws
and implementation).
This paper, therefore, discusses the impacts of extractive companies
on the biodiversity of the Niger Delta. To achieve this somewhat “in
exhaustive” objective, emphasis shall be placed on prominent
extractive areas such as exploration and exploitation of crude oil,
natural gas and sand dredging activities. To do justice to the diverse
audience, background information on key areas or concepts are
provided.
NIGER DELTA
Nigeria has a coastline of 853km bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the
gulf of guinea. It has a maritime area covering 46,500km2 between
0 – 20m depth and Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) of 210,900km2
(World Resources, 1990). The Atlantic Ocean coastline is interrupted
by a series of estuaries, which form the Niger Delta swamp in the
middle where the lower Niger River system drains the waters of
Rivers Niger and Benue into the ocean. To be precise, Niger Delta
covers all the land between latitude 4o151N and 4o501N and longitude
5o251E and 7o371E with a total area of 20,000km2 (powell et al.
1985). It is characterized by extensive interconnectivity of creeks,
deltaic tributaries, flood plains, mangrove swamps and other coastal
features.
EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY
In the context of this paper, extractive companies are those that
search for, and exploit resources, which are naturally stocked in the
earth crust.
There are two types of resources; renewable and non-renewable.
Renewable resources include living resources such as phytoplankton
and higher plants with animal life sustained by these (Dublin – Green
and Tobor, 1992). The non-renewable resources include crude oil
and gas, solid minerals, salts, sand and gravel etc. the most
important natural resources of the Niger Delta, are its deposits of
crude oil and gas on which the whole country depends for its energy
sources and foreign exchange (Odiete, 1999).
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Okiwelu and Anyanwu (2003) defined biological diversity
(biodiversity) as the variation among living organisms, which
encompasses species diversity (the number of different species)
genetic diversity (genetic variety within species) and ecosystem
diversity (the variety of interactions among living things in natural
communities). The term is also used to describe the number, variety
and variability of living organisms. In a broad sense, it is essentially
“life on earth”.
It is interesting to note that our Niger Delta has been declared a key
zone for the conservation of the Western Coast of Africa on the basis
of its extraordinary biodiversity.
In addition, Global Biodiversity Assessment (GBA), a massive review
of our current knowledge on the broad field of biological diversity
commissioned by UNEP considers humans as an integral and critical
important part of biodiversity (UNEP, 1999). In the past, there was
the tendency to treat the human species as separate from the rest of
nature.
It is estimated that in Nigeria there are more than 4600 plants
species of which about 205 are endemic (that is they cannot be
found elsewhere). Of these, about 484 plants in 112 families are
threatened with extinction. Many animals and birds are also
threatened with extinction (Salau, 1993). According to another
estimate, 25 out of 274 mammals, 10 out of 831 birds, and 2 out of
114 reptiles known to exist in Nigeria are endangered (WRI, 1992).
IMPORTANCE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Describing the value biodiversity is the same as describing the
benefits and functions of nature and natural biological resources. The
uses of biodiversity can be considered under subtitles; ecosystems,
species and genetic diversity. Generally, biodiversity have social,
economic, sacred (cultural, spiritual), nutritional and linguistic values.
It provides enjoyment, employment and aesthetic opportunities.
Ecosystem Diversity: Land resources are important in agriculture,
forestry, water management, energy production, human settlements.
Fresh Water: important for
development. Inland fisheries etc.
agriculture,
industry,
urban
Forests: These are sources of timber and firewood and also play
important role in biogeochemical cycles, maintenance of high species
biodiversity etc.
Coastal Areas: These include flood plains, mangroves and
freshwater swamp. They are important for fishing, as habitats for
migratory birds etc.
Oceans and Seas: Energy storage, provision of fish and shellfish.
SPECIES AND GENETIC DIVERSITY:
The benefits derivable from biodiversity are as many as there are
variable types of species or biological resources. The importance of
species and genetic diversity can be summed as follows;
(i)
The must important use of biological species is as food. About
103 plant species feed the world’s population as grains,
vegetables, oil and seeds, fruits etc. Many animal species are
eaten, though only a few species are managed in husbandry.
(ii)
Biological species are important in biological control of pests
and crop improvement. Biotech, using genetic material in
plants, animals and microbes, contribute significantly to better
health care, enhance food production etc.
(iii)
Medicinal drugs derived from natural sources, mainly plants and
a small fraction of mainly marine animal species; make an
important global contribution to health.
IMPACTS OF OIL AND GAS ON BIODIVERSITY
Oil and gas constitute over 90% of Nigerian foreign exchange
earnings. And the Niger Delta is the seat bench of oil and gas
production in Nigeria.
Virtually all aspects of oil and gas exploration and exploitation have
deleterious effects on the ecosystem and local biodiversity.
Oil exploration by seismic companies involves surveying, clearing of
seismic lines and massive dynamiting for geological excavation
(Seismic testing). The explosion of dynamite in aquatic environment
produces narcotic effect and mortality of fish and other faunal
organisms. Destabilization of sedimentary materials associated with
dynamite shooting causes increment in turbidity, blockage of filter
feeding apparatuses in benthic fauna, reduction of photosynthetic
activity due to reduced light penetration etc.
Burying of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta fragments rich
biodiversity ecosystems like rainforest, and mangroves. Apart from
the reduction in habitat area, clearing of pipeline track delineates
natural populations, which might in turn distort bleeding.
Oil spillages routinely occur in the Niger Delta. Sources of oil in the
environment are variable, including, pipeline leakage and rupturing,
accidental discharges (tank accident) discharges from refineries,
urban centers etc. There is also biogenic sources of hydrocarbons.
Between 1976 and 1997, there have been 5334 reported cases of
crude oil spillages releasing about 2.8 million barrels of oil into the
land, swamp, estuaries and coastal waters of Nigeria (Dublin-Green
et al. 1998). Most of these oil spill incidents reported in Nigeria occur
in the mangrove swamp forest of the Niger Delta. Mangrove, of
course, is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world with
rich community of fauna and flora.
It is pertinent to note that majority of oil spills occurring in the Niger
Delta are considered minor and are not reported. Some of the
pronounced oil spillages recorded in the petroleum industry of the
Niger Delta include, Bomu – II blow out, 1970; Forcados terminal
spillage, 1980; Funiwa – 5 oil well blowout, 1980; Oyakana pipeline
spillage, 1980; Okoma pipeline spillage, 1985; Oshika pipeline, 1993
and the recently Goi Trans Niger pipeline oil spill, 2004.
The overall effects of oil on ecosystem health and biota are very
many. Oil interferes with the functioning of various organs systems of
plants and animals. It creates environmental conditions unfavourable
for life. For e.g oil on the water surface forms a layer which prevents
oxygen from dissolving in water. Crude oil contains toxic
components, which caused out right mortality of plants and animals
as well as other sub lethal impacts. Generally, toxicity is dependent
on the nature and type of crude oil, the level of oil contamination,
type of environment and the selective degree of sensitivity of the
individual organism.
GAS FLARING
Gas flaring associated with oil production in the Niger Delta is very
unfriendly to natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Gas flares contain
over 250 toxins. Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Nigeria and The
climate justice programme, UK, (2005) usefully documented the
environmental and economic implications of gas flaring in Nigeria.
Perhaps more important is the finding in a study of the impact of gas
flaring on the environment which revealed that there was about
100% loss in yield in all crops cultivated about 200 metres away from
the Izombe station, 45% loss of those about 600 metres away and
about 10% loss in yield for crops about one kilometer away from the
flare (Okezie and Okeke, 1987).
Leakages and fire incidents are also associated with gas production
and transportation. Just last week, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas
(NLNG) pipeline traversing Kala-Akama, Okrika mangrove swamps
leaked and caught fire which burned uncontrollably for 3 days. Local
plants and animals inhabiting the affected area were killed. It must
be stressed that incidents such as this one outlined above can result
in elimination of whole population of endangered species with
restricted distribution.
For instance, during the construction of NLNG, gas plant in Bonny,
footprints of hippopotamus were visibly seen. These giant wild life
known to have flourish in the Finima area where the NLNG plant
complex now conspicuously occupy had vanished completely.
Whether the rare Finima hippo population are all dead or embarked
on mandatory migration to a relatively “safe” and undisturbed area
remain obscure to this day. However, it is ecologically acclaimed that
wildlife caused by anthropogenic disturbances to migrate are prone
to encounter ecological catastrophes.
SAND DREDGING
The most obvious mineral resources of the marine beaches and
submerged beaches off Nigeria are silica sand and gravel. Large
quantities of sand and gravel occur on the shallow inner continental
shelf to depth of 40m.
This is another extracting industry ever increasing, having great
environmental toll on biodiversity. Sand and gravel are a good
resource for housing and road construction. Being the hub of
industrialization in Nigeria especially the petroleum sector, Niger
Delta urban centers witness unprecedented influx of people from all
walks of life seeking for “greener” pastures. Human population
increases, presupposes housing crisis, increase in waste output
among others. Consequently, sand dredging industry is thriving in the
region with attendant intensification to meet up industrial and
domestic demands.
Sand dredging has many effects on biodiversity. It causes settled
sedimentary particles to enter into suspension, leading to high
turbidity of water and reduced photosynthetic activity. Particles in
suspension affects filter feeding in benthic organisms. Many fauna
that inhabit sandy sediments are “sucked” and pumped onto land,
leading to their deaths. Sedimentary plumes are carried by tidal
currents inland and become deposited in nursery grounds. When this
happens, reproduction success is hampered.
In shallow inland water areas where suction dredging takes place,
the sheer strength of flanking riverbanks weakens, riparian erosion
ensues and biodiversity of the affected area dwindles or become lost
entirely. Dredging/quarrying of sand and gravels along riverbanks
contribute to sliding, slumping and gully development resulting in
land degradation.
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
In summary, the effects of extractive industry on the biodiversity of
the Niger Delta belt are very many. This ranges from subtle sub
lethal impairment to outright mortality of plants and animals.
Undoubtedly, development and environmental degradation and
pollution are like twin brothers, but the extractive companies must
adopt technologies and “best” practices that will forestall or lessen
impacts on biological diversity for our collective well-being.
Government and regulatory bodies have potent role to play in
maintaining biodiversity of the fragile Niger Delta. This should include
enacting pragmatic laws that will protect biodiversity, enhance strict
monitoring of industrial activities and enforcement of the laws
protecting biodiversity. Enforcement becomes very crucial in the
conservation process, because, it is sad to mention that “sound
conceived” laws on environmental protection and conservation exist
in Nigeria but implementation is nothing to write about. For instance,
Decree No 11 of April 20, 1985 prohibits hunting, capture and trade
of some endangered species like crocodile, alligator, turtles etc but
we see them every day publicly displayed and marketed. Again,
Decree 86 of 1992 says Environmental Impact Assessment studies
must precede major developmental projects. Regrettably, no such
studies were conducted prior to the commencement of the on-going
construction of Bodo-Bonny road and bridges. This is inspite of the
fact that the road will traverse large expanse of mangrove swamps,
creeks, arable land with their peculiar biodiversity. The no E.I.A.
studies syndrome preceding major developmental projects is
commonplace in the Niger Delta belt and other part of Nigeria.
Winning the protect-biodiversity war requires concerted efforts.
Individuals, groups like civil society, mass mobilization, pressure
groups and government must be involved.
I enjoin you to join in the crusade to safe guard the rich biodiversity
of the Niger Delta from the potent fang of extractive companies.
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