Conserving Against Climate Change and Poverty: The implications for the 21st Century Nigerian Economy

Abstract

Nature, no doubt, has been kind to humanity as confirmed by the natural endowment which mankind has continued to benefit from. However, the relationship has not been reciprocal as man has continued to repay nature’s hospitality with naked brutality. Indeed, it is the reaction of the natural world to the unending negativity of man that resulted into various environmental hazards, especially climate change and its attendant consequences like food crisis, diseases, flooding, desertification, entrenchment of poverty and many more. With the current speed of unstable climatic conditions, the poorest countries in Africa (Nigeria included) may suffer more due to geographical locations, fragile economies, low income, heavy reliance on climate sensitive sectors such as extractive industries and agriculture and lack of adequate modern conservation skills and facilities. This definitely will have catastrophic consequences on already battered economies. This paper argues that the poorest of the poor Nigerians as in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa are mostly affected and may still suffer more if urgent steps are not taken to abate the climate fluctuations. The paper concludes that it is only through sound and holistic conservation strategies that this ugly trend can be positively reversed.