Why rehabilitation, restoration and protection of watershed forests in Nigeria should be given a priority attention

Abstract

Watershed is defined as an area of land that catches rainfall, and other precipitation and funnels it into a marsh, stream, river, lake or ground water is the basic building block of sound natural resources stewardship. The water bodies supplied by the watershed, provide our drinking water, water for agriculture and manufacturing, offer opportunities for recreation and provide habitat to numerous plants and animals. Forests among other environmental and socio-economic benefits also play very important role in watershed health. The quantity and the quality of water resources in a given watershed area is dependent on the condition of the forest surrounding it. Forested watersheds when properly managed help maintain ecological balance, minimize the occurrence of floods and droughts, and could mitigate the effects of adverse climatic changes. Because of its known environmental and economic benefits, economic and land use decisions is being made the world over in favour of protecting forested watersheds to help safeguard water supply. The positive relationship between watershed forests and water quality is already being exploited to help supply clean drinking-water to millions of people around the world with over a third of the world’s 105 largest cities obtaining some or all of their drinking water from forest protected catchments. In Nigeria however, many watersheds are degraded and considered in critical condition due to overexploitation. Such degradation of the watershed forests has led to many environmental problems such as erosion and flooding with consequent loss of lives and property. Development, rehabilitation, restoration and protection of watershed forests in Nigeria should therefore be given priority attention.

Keywords: Forest, Water, Watershed, Rehabilitation, Degradation, Flood