Nigerianness in Terms of Natural Heritage and Policies on the Environment

Abstract

National identity is often defined in terms of distinctive language, culture, and traditions. Elements in the environment should equally be used in this definition. Identifying and expressing ‘Nigerianness’ in terms of her unique natural heritage is a very important vital element in the sustainable use and development of the nation’s biodiversity. Nigeria is endowed with many endemic plants and animals due to the nation’s diverse ecosystems. The value of these unique species to global biodiversity requires special attention for their sustainability. Some vertebrates endemic to Nigeria were considered in this work in view of the various stages of the nation’s policy on environment. The aim is to accentuate the urgent need of closing the gap between policy makers and the local communities in making sustainable use of these important components of the environment. The Nigerian Policy on Environment was formed in 1988 and has gone through several levels of improvements in its implementation over the years. Nigeria is a signatory to several global policies on the environment, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Convention on Biodiversity. This level of commitment gives a globally accepted platform for the nation’s policies on the environment. The paper concludes by proposing the integration of the knowledge of the local community of the natural heritage into the nation’s educational policy, while laying more emphasis on awareness campaigns as provided in the National Policy on Environment. With this holistic approach of documenting Nigeria’s natural heritage by Nigerians, the nation will be reaping great benefits of conserving her unique natural heritage, which in turn will be added value to the world’s benefits from biodiversity.