Depletion of Vegetal Resources in Niger Delta: A Challenge to Environmental Sustainable Development

Author(s): Aloni Clinton , Alexander Chinago B

Vegetal resources abound in the Niger Delta region, and it serves great purpose, but unplanned

development and weak policy on environmental sustainability is a threat to man, biodiversity and the environment. The importance of vegetal resources can never be over emphasized, it absorb carbon dioxide, protect the wildlife, the soil, enhance quality of air, provide fuel for homes, medicine for the sick, fund for government and individual etc. With depleted vegetal resources, the rate of flooding, soil erosion, and pollution has increased. The atmospheric temperature is slowly but steadily increasing, wind becoming more destructive; further the extinction of some plants and animals among others are few consequences of vegetal depletion. The stand of this paper is that sustainable development, such that will judiciously use and enjoy the vegetal resources without short changing future generation should be pursued. Base on this, the following suggestions were made- afforestation and reforestation be urgently practise. The brown areas of urban centres should be built upon and the green areas conserved. Strong legislation against the depletion of vegetal resources is needed. Forest reserves should be created to protect endangered species. Life will be meaningful when the vegetation coexists with man. We did not inherit the vegetation from our fathers, as to treat it any how we like. It is a legacy that we must protect or be doomed.