Deforestation Challenges in the Niger Delta Region: A Case Study on the Electrical and Communication Sectors

Abstract

Illegal logging activities are causing significant deforestation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria at an alarming rate. This study was carried out to appraise the forest vegetation status of the oil hub region of Nigeria which is already devastated by crude oil exploration and production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current forest vegetation status in the oil hub region of Nigeria, which has been heavily affected by crude oil exploration and production. The study involved visiting ten major forest communities in the region, where the vegetative cover and average tree girth size were assessed. The research findings indicate a significant absence of uppermost vegetation canopy in the forests, with shrubs dominating the forested areas. A visit to the major timber markets in the region also showed that 80% of the timber girth sizes were less than 0.5 meters. This anthropogenic deforestation action is likely to exacerbate the effects of climate change and environmental degradation. Additionally, this action may result in the removal of natural barriers, potentially leading to degradation in electrical and wireless communication networks. The results of this study emphasize the significance of afforestation within sustainable environmental management strategies, as well as the integration of advanced technological systems.