SS2 2ND TERM BIOLOGY

Conservation of Natural Resources:

What is a resource? A resource is that valuable needed for our wellbeing.
Conservation of natural resources
This is the prudent and judicious use of natural resources (which are usually scarce), to ensure their
continuous availability, while preserving our environment. The primary reason for conservation is for the
sustainability of the scarce resources.
Type of Natural Resources: 1. Renewable Resources and 2. Nonrenewable Resources
Renewable resources are natural resources that replenish themselves over time or exist on a continual basis.
Eg solar energy, wind, falling water, the heat of the earth (geothermal), plant materials (biomass), waves,
ocean currents, temperature differences in the oceans and the energy of the tides.
Nonrenewable resources are limited in supply and not sustainable. They include: oil, natural gas, coal, and
nuclear energy.
Natural resources that can be conserved:
Forest, Water, Mineral deposits, precious stone, wild life, soil and Air
The Importance or Needs of the Conservation of Natural Resources:
1. To protect the animal species and prevent their extinction.
2. To enable us live in a clean and healthy environment.
3. Provide recreation centers, parks, waterfalls and game reserves.
4. Maintains a balanced and functional ecosystem.
5. To provide the basis for research, especially on medicinal plants
6. Allows for the study of living organisms in their natural environment.
7. conservation ensures the availability raw materials for industries for food and feed production for man and
animals respectively.
8. Provides revenue for government through tourism

International treaties Nigeria is party to on conservation

UNCLOS: United Nation Convention on Law of the Sea, 1982(1994)16

I. CBD: Convention of Biological Diversity, 1992 (1993)

II. UNCCD: United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification, 1975 (1994)
III. CITIES: Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species, 1973(1987)
IV. RAMSAR-CWIIEWH: Convention on Wetland on International Importance Especially as Waterfowl
Habitat, 1971(1975) The convention was named after the host city of Ramsar in Iran.
V. UNFCCC: United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992(1994)
VI. Heritage: Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972(1975)
VII. Basel: Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animal, 1979(1983)
VIII. Ozone: Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer and Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Depletes the Ozone Layer, 1985(1988)
IX. ICLS: International Convention for the safety of Life at Sea, 2004
 X. ICEIFCOPD: International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation
for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971(2006)
XI. ICPPS: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973(2007).

Agencies responsible for conservation in Nigeria.

I. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN)

II. National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA)
III. National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NEREA)
IV. National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA)
V. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
VI. Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF)
VII. Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development (FMEHUD)
VIII. Friends of the Environment Nigeria (FEN, NGO)
IX. Federal Ministry of Environment (FMOE).
X. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA)
XI. River Basin Development Authority (RBDA

International Conservation Agencies:

1. World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
2. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
3. Conservation International (CI)
4. Fauna and Floral International (FFI)
5. African Wild Life Foundation (AWF)
6. African Foundation for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW)
7. International Whaling Commission (IWF)
8. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
9. The World Land Trust (WLT)

Problems of Conservation:
1. Poverty mitigate against obeying conservation laws
2. Lack of Political will among our political class.
3. Continuous oil spill as a result of obsolete equipments
4. Limited sources of energy lead to destruction of natural forests for firewood.
5. Ignorance of the people on the need for conservation.
6. Overpopulation leads to excessive use of natural resources. `
5. Inadequate planning does not allow the implementation of conservation programs.

Forest Reserves in Nigeria:

In Nigeria, there are over 1,000 forest reserves, 29 game reserves, four game sanctuaries and seven national
parks.
Afi River Forest Reserve cross river state; Akure Forest Reserve south west Nigeria
Akure Ofosu Forest Reserve; Edumanom Forest Reserve Niger Delta
Gujba Forest Reserve Yobe state; Idanre Forest Reserve Ondo State
 Ise Forest Reserve Ekiti state; Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve in Mambilla plateau
Oba Hills Forest Reserve Osun State; Okeluse Forest Reserve Ondo state
Okomu Forest Reserve Edo state; Oluwa Forest Reserve Ondo State
Shasha River Forest Reserve in Ogun state; Zamfara Forest in Zamfara state
Sakpoba Forest Reserve in Edo state; Olokomeji Forest Reserve in Oyo state.
Omo Forest Ogun state; Mamu River Forest Reserve in Adamawa state.
Sambisa Forest Borno state; Egbema Forest Reserve, Imo State
Kalunta Forest Reserve Abia, Nigeria. Somari Forest Reserve Anambra State
Oji River Forest Reserve, Enugu State

National Parks in Nigeria

 Old Oyo National Park.
 Wildlife Parks in Nigeria:
 Lekki Conservation Centre
 Cross River National Park
 Yankari National Park. ...
 Gashaka Gumti National Park.
 Jos Wildlife Park

Methods of Conservation of Natural Resources

1. Instead of deforestation, think of Afforestation. Everybody should take part in plantation and care the plants.
2. People should at once stop the over utilization of natural resources.
3. We should form the habit of recycling our waste to restore biodiversity.
4. Mixed cropping, crop rotation, and proper use of fertilizer, insecticide and pesticides should be taught to farmers. 5.
5. Encourage the use of manures, bio fertilizers and organic fertilizers.
6. We should protect wildlife. For this educated young should teach the lesson of wildlife act.
7’. We must develop energy saving methods to avoid wastage of energy.
8. Use drip irrigation and sprinkling irrigation to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce evaporation.
9. Utilize renewable energy sources as much as possible. Encourage use of solar cooker, pump etc.
10. We should recycle the waste and waste water for agriculture purposes.
11. Install rain water harvesting system in your houses, colonies.

Ways of Ensuring the Conservation of Natural Resources

1. Establishment of Agencies of Conservation.
2. Establishment of game Reserves and national parks
3. Making of conservation laws and edits
4. Conservation education
5. Setting Standards for pollution control

References:
1.MC. MICHAEL 2012 ESSENTIAL BIOLOGY FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
2. AB ODAIGBO 2012; MAC. PROGRESSIVE BIOLOGY FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
3. INTERNET RESOURCES: https://www.preservearticles.com/education/11-methods-for-the-conservation-of-
natural-resources/22725
ASSIGNMENT: THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF A FLOWERING PLANT