The study, which was conducted in conjunction with a team of experts from the University of Missouri, USA, covered between 1986 and 2003.

Presenting the report on Monday in Abuja, Professor Jimmy Adegoke of the Department of Geosciences, University of Missouri, said the mangrove forest lost was made up of 5681.85 hectares from the North segment of the region.

Others, according to him, include 6450.73 hectares from the South-West segment and 9209.05 hectares from the South-East segment.
He noted that the mangrove forest in the region, which used to be the third largest in the world and the biggest in Africa, was depleted as a result of both human and natural causes.

He said the depletion was becoming an issue of great concern as the mangrove was recognised worldwide as one of the most productive and ecologically diverse ecosystems.

“Hundreds of communities in the Niger Delta derive their livelihoods directly from the mangrove forest along the creeks and river channels in the region,” he said.

He said the factors responsible for the depletion of the mangrove forest included rapid urbanisation, land clearing for oil and gas exploration, production and overland pipeline transportation, among others.

He said the study showed that erosional tendencies were still prevalent along the Niger Delta coast, adding that already, more than 59 per cent of the observed coast line had been eroded.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/06062006/news/news8.html
Dr. Jimmy Adegoke
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Geosciences
University of Missouri-Kansas City
e-mail : adegokej@umkc.edu
URL : <http://iml.umkc.edu/geo/

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The Mangrove Action Project News, 172nd Edition, Part 1 of 2, June 24, 2006