Biodiversity Under Threat In Delta, By Odimegwu Onwumere

With vast forests, freshwater, and exotic wildlife ecosystems, the Niger Delta is one of the most diverse regions in the world and is rich in biodiversity, including many plant and animal species.

However, experts say that this biodiversity is under severe threat due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. The analysis found that sea level rise poses many challenges to the biodiversity of the Niger Delta. According to them, rising sea levels increase the amount of salt water flowing into freshwater.

This salinization affects plants that cannot adapt to a saline environment, leading to the decline of healthy plants and changes in habitat. Mangrove ecosystems are particularly vulnerable, as they serve as important breeding grounds for many fish species and provide refuge for many wildlife species.

It is disturbing that sea-level rise could cause further flooding, damaging life on land and in the water, even to many bird species that depend on the delta for nesting sites and as a food source.

The biodiversity of the Niger Delta is expected to provide important ecosystem services such as water filtration, carbon storage, and coastal protection from erosion but this seems to be no kore. Sea-level rise threatens these ecosystems and poses the risk of losing these important services.

The destruction of mangrove forests not only affects local wildlife but also weakens natural defenses against storms and coastal erosion. Studies have found that the impact of sea-level rise on biodiversity also has economic consequences for local communities whose livelihoods depend on fishing and agriculture.

Fishermen face declines as environmental changes shift or reduce fishing resources, leading to food shortages and economic hardship. Saltwater intrusion and flooding can also reduce the productivity of agricultural land. To mitigate the impact of sea-level rise on biodiversity in the Niger Delta, the United Nations plays a key role in addressing the problems posed by sea-level rise and its impact on biodiversity through a number of initiatives that leverage the concept of nature conservation.

These activities include restoring fragile habitats such as mangroves, promoting sustainable land use, and strengthening local community resilience by learning climate change strategies. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aims to mitigate the effects of global climate change, including efforts to limit sea level rise.

Agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are currently working to protect biodiversity in sensitive areas such as the Niger Delta. As countries face land loss due to rising sea levels, the UN is in international legal negotiations with countries over land rights.

The United Nations has programs aimed at strengthening the resilience of developing countries, including the Niger Delta region, to the effects of climate change. In addition, the UN supports research efforts to gather information on the effects of climate change on biodiversity that can inform national and international policy decisions.