The decline of biodiversity is a significant environmental concern jeopardising ecological stability and livelihoods in the Niger Delta. This project investigates the magnitude, causes, and consequences of biodiversity loss, aiming to identify ways for sustainable ecological restoration and enhanced governance. Utilising the Social–Ecological Systems (SES) and Environmental Governance and Justice (EGJ) frameworks, the study employed a mixed-methods approach incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data were acquired from environmental reports, remote sensing imagery, and scientific literature and examined through trend analysis and content review to evaluate habitat alteration and species diversity. Research indicated substantial declines in mangrove coverage and in fish, avian, and mammalian species from 1980 to 2020, largely attributable to oil contamination, deforestation, and inadequate institutional enforcement. The study indicates that reversing biodiversity loss necessitates robust governance change, community engagement, and ecosystem-based restoration for sustainable development.

Biodiversity Loss, Niger Delta, Environmental Governance

Abaje, I. B., Ishaya, S., & Ati, O. F. (2021). Climate change, droughts and desertification in northern Nigeria: Implications for agriculture and water resources. Environmental Research, 200, 111405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111405

Angaye, T. C., & Lelei, G. T. (2025). The impacts of resource exploitation in the Niger Delta: Highlighting the urgent need for biodiversity conservation. Greener Journals

Ansah, C., Abu, I., Kleemann, J., Mahmoud, M., & Thiel, M. (2022). Environmental contamination of a biodiversity hotspot—action needed for nature conservation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Sustainability, 14(21), 14256. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114256

Ansah, L. A., Ogbeibu, A. E., & Uwagbae, M. (2022). Ecological assessment of mangrove biodiversity and ecosystem function in the Niger Delta. Journal of Wetland Ecology, 45(3), 221–237.

Ansah, M. R., Akpan, S. N., & Bassey, F. E. (2022). Assessing the impact of crude oil spillage on the biodiversity of coastal communities in the Niger Delta. Journal of Environmental Management and Safety, 13(2), 1-13.

Chaudhary, R. P., Joshi, S. P., Rimal, S. K., & Belbase, N. (2024). Plant diversity conservation in the Nepal Himalaya: Status, policies, and legislative frameworks. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50702-1_15

Clinton, H., Okpara, K., & Techato, K. (2021). Toxicity and risks assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in river bed sediments of an artisanal crude oil refining area in the niger delta, nigeria. Water, 13(22), 3295. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13223295

Clinton, P., Richard, H., & Flourizel, D. (2024). Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination and fishery collapse in Nigerian wetlands. Environmental Toxicology Reports, 9(1), 77–91.

Edo, V. G., & Albrecht, G. (2021). Ecological Justice in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. In S. A. G. Albrecht (Ed.), Ecological Justice: A Global Perspective (pp. 150-175).

Ejaita, E. & Omonefe, F. (2025). Multi attribute predictions of lithology and porosity from seismic data over akaso field, Niger delta using machine learning regression analysis.. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7108472/v1

Eke, O. C., & Chukwu, D. I. (2020). Governance gaps and compliance challenges in industrial pollution control: Evidence from the Niger Delta. International Journal of Research in Science and Technology, 7(1), 1-10.

Fabre, C., & Vertier, P. (2024). The economic stakes of biodiversity loss in Africa and measures implemented to limit it. HAL Archives. https://hal.science/hal-04760200

Flourizel, D., Jack, N., & Okoye, C. (2024). Sediment PAH toxicity and artisanal refining impacts on mangrove systems. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 190, 115938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.115938

Flourizel, I., Ahulimen, R., & Weapngong, T. (2024). Effects of illegal refineries on aquatic life in the niger delta, nigeria: a review. International Journal of Environment and Pollution Research, 12(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.37745/ijepr.13/vol12n1117

Flourizel, I., Weapngong, T., & Ukwubile, O. (2024). A review on the effects of crude oil spill on aquatic life (fish) in the niger delta, nigeria. International Journal of Environment and Pollution Research, 12(1), 75-94. https://doi.org/10.37745/ijepr.13/vol12n17594

George, N., Ekanem, K., Ekanem, A., Udosen, N., & Thomas, J. (2025). Geoelectric curve amplitude and percentage thickening for aquifer vulnerability and hydrological connectivity in aquifer-water channel systems: a case study of akwa ibom state.. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6916300/v1

Ikeke, C. (2024). Environmental racism and the resource curse: A philosophical appraisal of the Niger Delta crisis. Journal of African Studies and Development, 16(1), 1-12.

Ikeke, M. (2024). Environmental justice and oil-induced livelihood decline in the Niger Delta.

Environmental Sociology, 10(2), 143–159.

Ikeke, M. (2024). Environmental racism in Nigeria’s Niger delta: an ethical appraisal. Phronimon. https://doi.org/10.25159/2413-3086/7271

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2025). Red List of Threatened Species. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/biodiversity

International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. “Number of species threatened with extinction” [dataset]. International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, “IUCN Red List Summary Statistics Table 1a” [original data]. Retrieved January 14, 2026 from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260106-083806/grapher/number-species-threatened.html (archived on January 6, 2026).

Jack, J. (2025). (mal)adaptation to environmental pollution: oil and the ‘livelihood dysfunction trap’ in nigeria’s niger delta. Africa, 95(2), 158-182. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0001972025101083

Jack, O. A. (2025). Institutional capture and environmental injustice: Impediments to effective remediation in the Niger Delta. Nigerian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 10(1), 45-58

Lemenkova, P. & Debeir, O. (2023). Computing vegetation indices from the satellite images using grass gis scripts for monitoring mangrove forests in the coastal landscapes of niger delta, nigeria. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11(4), 871. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11040871

Lemenkova, P., & Debeir, O. (2023). Remote sensing of vegetation loss in oil-producing deltas using GRASS GIS. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(1), 78–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-10899-2

Mansourian, S., & Stephenson, P. J. (2023). Exploring challenges and lessons for monitoring forest landscape restoration. Current Landscape Ecology Reports, 8(2), 88–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40823-023-00092-z

McGuinness, S., & Bullock, C. (2024). Funding Ireland’s biodiversity: A financial needs assessment for biodiversity in Ireland. ResearchGate.

Mfuni, T. I., Powell, B., & Alexander, R. (2025). The construction of biodiversity in conservation policy discourse: A multiscalar analysis. Conservation Science and Practice, 7(2), e70211. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70211

Nkeeh, F. R., Ijeoma, A. J., & Ukah, C. C. (2025). Prospects of oil spill remediation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria: A case study of Bodo Creek. Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research, 27(1), 39-56

Nogués-Bravo, D., & Whitmee, S. (2025). Metrics for biodiversity and health policy integration. PLOS Global Public Health, 5(3), e0004624. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004624

Numbere, A. O. (2020). Threats to aquatic biodiversity in the Niger Delta. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 12(4), 211-218.

Nwankwo, S. I., & Ume, E. C. (2023). Oil extraction, environmental degradation, and conservation failure in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Energy Policy, 177, 113184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113184

Nworgu, A. (2025). Environmental justice in the Niger Delta vis-à-vis the political desire for uninterrupted flow of the petro-dollar: Striking a balance for sustainable development. COOU Journal of Civil and Public Law, 3(2), 36-50.

Ogbeibu, A. & Oribhabor, B. (2023). The niger delta mangrove ecosystem and its conservation challenges.. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.112543

Okoye, D. (2025). Comparative assessment of atmospheric pollutants across geopolitical zones in southern Nigeria using sentinel-5p (2019 and 2024).. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs- 6491660/v1

Paley, M. (2022). Practical steps to reform and repurpose biodiversity-harmful subsidies in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. WWF International.

Pereira, M. J. S. L., & Esteves da Silva, J. (2024). Environmental stressors of Mozambique soil quality. Environments, 11(6), 125. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060125

Poisot, T., Becker, D. J., Catchen, M. D., & Gibb, R. (2025). Biodiversity science and biosurveillance are fellow travelers. BioScience, 75(4), 311–323. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf091

Richard, G., Izah, S., & Ogwu, M. (2022). Implications of artisanal crude oil refining on sustainable food production in the niger delta region of nigeria. Journal of Environmental Bioremediation and Toxicology, 5(2), 69-77. https://doi.org/10.54987/jebat.v5i2.775

Sam, P. E., Udo, K. A., & Akpan, E. N. (2023). Mangrove restoration and community resilience in the Niger Delta. African Journal of Ecology, 61(4), 765–781. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13045

Tinilau, S. S., Hemstock, S. L., Mercer, T. G., & Hannaford, M. (2025). Environmental stewardship education in Tuvalu: The role of policy alignment. Sustainability, 17(3), 872. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17030872

Ukpoju, B. E., Akpan, U. S., & Ojo, S. K. (2023). Aligning climate action and biodiversity conservation in Nigeria: Implications of the Paris Agreement. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 41(4), 108-118.

Uwagbae, M. C., Ibe, R. U., & Amadi, C. N. (2020). Anthropogenic drivers of mangrove degradation and biodiversity loss in the Niger Delta. Wetland Ecology and Management, 28(5), 795-808.

Uwagbae, M., Dirisu, A., Gbarakoro, T., Surtasi, E., Agwu, J., Aisien, M., … & Rotimi, J. (2020). Impact of disturbances on the biodiversity of ijala-ikeren wetland ecosystem in Niger Delta. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82604

Uwagbae, M., Ogbeibu, A. E., & Oribhabor, B. J. (2020). The ecological impacts of oil pollution on aquatic systems in the Niger Delta. Environmental Review Journal, 44(2), 157–175.

Uzorka, M. & Henshaw, K. (2022). Ecological justice and community development in the Niger Delta: A critical appraisal of the impact of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 on host communities.

Williams, D. R., Clark, M., Buchanan, G. M., Ficetola, G. F., Rondinini, C., & Tilman, D. (2021). Proactive conservation to prevent habitat losses to agricultural expansion. Nature Sustainability, 4(4), 314-322. – processed by Our World in Data