Environmental Consequences Of Rainfall Variability And Deforestation In Southeastern Nigeria
Keywords:
Environmental Consequences, Rainfall variability, Deforestation, Degradation, Adaptation measuresAbstract
The study was a review of the environmental consequences of rainfall viability and deforestation in Southeastern Nigeria. Data on rainfall were collected from the archives of the Nigerian Meteorological Services, Oshodi Lagos, Enugu airport and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) weather observatory. Time series analysis was utilized to establish long fluctuation pattern in rainfall over an extended period. Line graph, simple and multiple bar graphs were plotted with available rainfall data. The time series analysis disclosed secular trend, cyclical component and seasonal component of rainfall and associated environmental consequences. Also, the environmental consequences of rainfall variation and deforestation include soil erosion, flood disaster, decline in volume of stream, seasonal drought, increasing carbon emission. This no doubt results in deterioration and degradation of environmental quality. It then becomes expedient to apply adaptation measure, substantial planting of trees, and urgent development of forest and game reserve to mitigate this grave environmental hazard.
References
Adejuwon J. O. (2004). Crop yield Response to Climate Variability in the Sudano Sahelian Ecological Zones of Nigeria in southwestern Nigeria. In AIACC Report of Workshop for Africa and Indian Ocean Island. Dakar, Senegal, pp. 15-16.
Adejuwon J. O. and Odekunle T. O. (2004). Variability and Intensity of the "little Dry Season" in southwestern Nigeria. In AIACC Report of Workshop for Africa and Indian Ocean Island. Dakar, Senegal, pp 8-9.
Adejuwon J.O. and Odekunle T.O. (2006). Variability and the Severity of the "Little Dry Season" in Southwestern Nigeria. Am Meteorological Soc. 483-493.
Alok J. (2005), Amazon rainforest vanishing at twice rate of previous estimates. The Guardian. October 21.
Anika S. M. (2010), Climate change: Its Evidence in Nigeria, Mitigation, Adaptation And Disaster Risk Management Implications, paper presented at CEMAC, UNEC, Public lecture.
Anyadike R. N. C. (2009), Climate Change: Causes and Consequences, paper presented at CEMAC, UNEC, public lecture. FAO (2005). Climate Variability and Change: A Challenge for Sustainable Agricultural Production. Committee on Agriculture.
Frederic A., Hugh D. E., Hans-Jurgen S.and Mayaux P. (2002). Determination of deforestation rates of the world's humid tropical forests. Science, 297(5583), 999
Global Futures Foundation (1998). Deforestation: Causes, Implications, and Solutions, http://www.globalff.org/Feature_Articles/Previous_Articles/pre-defo.htm.
Hisham M. and Sharma J. (9991). Whose Trees? A People's View of Forestry Aid. London: Panos Institute.
Holden H., Peel D. A. and Thompson N. (1993). Economic Forecasting, Vitalis Pub. London.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1996). Impacts, Adaptations and Mitigations of Climate Change. In Waston, R.T., Zinyowere, M.C. and Moss, R.H. (eds) Scientific and Technical Analysis: Contribution of working Group II to the Second Assessment Report of IPCC. London: Cambridge University Press,
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2000). Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry. Cambridge University Press, London.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2004). Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry. Cambridge University Press, London. Nigeria Meteorological Service (NIMET) (2009). Annual weather Observation Record, Oshodi, Lagos.
Ofomata, G. E. K. (1985). Soil Erosion in Nigeria: The View of Geomorphologies. Inaugural Lecture Services. No 7, University of Nigeria
Nsukka Ogbuene E. B. (2010). Impact of Rainfall Disparity on Land degradation and Biodiversity loss in Southeastern Nigerian Environment. Ist West Africa International Workshop and Conference on Landslides and Other Geo hazards.
Oguntoyinbo , J. S. (1981). Towards a Better Understanding of Drought Phenomena in West Africa. Oguntoyinbo, J. S. et al (eds) Meteorological Hazards and Development, NMS , Lagos.
Ojo O. (1977). The Climate of West Africa. Ibadan: Hesnemam Publication.
Osagie O. I. (2002). Cereal output to Plunge Next Year in Agribusiness. Thisday online.
Pearce, D. W. (2001), the Economic Value of Forest Ecosystems. Ecosystem Health, 7 (4), 284-296.
Philip M. F. and William F. L. (2004). Tropical Deforestation and Greenhouse-gas Emissions. Ecological Applications, 14 (4), 982-986
Rhett A. Butler T. (2005), Nigeria with Worst Deforestation Rate: FOA Revises Figures Mongabay.com
Rudel, T. K. (2005). Tropical Forests: Regional Paths of Destruction and Regeneration in the Late 20th Century Columbia University Press.
SPSS (1990). SPSS/PC. Statistical 4.0 for the IBM Pc/Xt/At and PS/2. United State of America.
Tree Society (2000). Impact of Deforestation. Johannesburg: Tree Society UNFCCC (2007), Investment and financial flows to address climate change. unfccc.int. UNFCCC. pp. 81
UNICEF (2007). The Nigerian Child. United Nations Children's Fund, 1, 1 William F. L. and Philip M. F. (1999), Reflections on the tropical deforestation crisis. Biological Conservation, 91 (2-3), 109-117.
Wilson, E. O. (1990) Engineering Hydrology. London: Macmillan Press Ltd. .
