Anthropogenic Activities and their Impacts on Biodiversity Survival in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria
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Date
2020-08-03
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Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, University of Ilorin, Ilorin
Abstract
Biodiversity plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of man. Therefore, careful use of biodiversity is an essential requirement for sustained global development. However, available data points to a high rate of biodiversity loss especially in developing countries which has been attributed to a combination of human-induced factors, including rising demand for and consumption of natural resources. This paper identifies those human activities that result in irreversible loss of biodiversity using the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State as an example. A structured questionnaire containing information on the people’s activities influencing biodiversity loss, the effects of biodiversity loss, and socio-economic characteristics among other questions were randomly administered to 250 residents of the Local Government Area. Residents Agreement Index (RAI), descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and, regression analysis were used to explain the causes and effects of biodiversity loss. Ten major activities were identified to be influencing irreversible biodiversity loss. They are, cattle rearing (1.21), logging (0.89), road construction (0.81), culture (0.79) and herb harvesting (0.59), poaching (-0.69), farming (-0.61), Industrial activities (-1.59), energy generation (-1.32) and settlement development (-0.05). The effects of biodiversity loss include poor crop yield (43.2%), soil erosion (31%), a threat of desertification (12%), reduction in the number of wildlife (9.6%), reduction in timber production (4.2%). The results of the regression analysis show that biodiversity loss is a function of the socio- economic characteristics of people. The paper concluded that though the socio-economic development of a society is attached to its biodiversity exploitation, careful, diligent, and sustainable use of these resources is required.
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Keywords
Biodiversity, human activities, medicinal plants, socio-economic characteristics, biodiversity loss.
Citation
Ola, A. B., Adewale, Y. Y., Raheem, W. A. and Afonja, A. A (2020): Anthropogenic Activities and their Impacts on Biodiversity Survival in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria. Journal of Geomatics and Environmental Research, 3(1), 115 – 132. Published by Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, University of Ilorin, Ilorin.