Livestock production is a part of Nigeria's agriculture system. In 2017, the country had about 80 million poultry birds, 76 million goats, 43.4 million sheep, 18.4 million cattle, 7.5 million pigs, and 1.4 million equids.[1] Livestock agriculture is about 5% of Nigeria's GDP, and 17% of its agriculture GDP.[2]

Meat demand has increased as economic development grows in Nigeria.[3] Animal grazing practices in Nigeria have changed due to population growth, urbanization, and changing agricultural practices.[4][5] Traditional nomadic herding has transitioned to sedentary and intensive grazing, leading to increased pressure on forested areas. Overgrazing, particularly in fragile ecosystems such as savannas and woodland areas, has caused a loss of vegetation, soil, and biodiversity.

Environmental impacts

Animal grazing and deforestation in Nigeria is a significant environmental issue with far-reaching implications for ecosystems, communities, and sustainable development. Nigeria has a large population of livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats, which depend on grazing for sustenance.[5][4] However, the traditional and modern practices of animal grazing have contributed to deforestation and other severe environmental degradation.[6][7]

Deforestation

Deforestation in Nigeria is driven by various factors, including agricultural expansion, logging, fuelwood collection, and infrastructural development. The expansion of grazing areas and the clearing of forests for pastureland significantly contribute to deforestation rates in the country. This loss of forest cover has profound consequences for climate regulation, water resources, and the overall health of ecosystems.[8]

The relationship between animal grazing and deforestation in Nigeria is complex and intertwined. On one hand, excessive grazing and overstocking of animals contribute to the degradation and depletion of forests. On the other hand, deforestation limits the availability of suitable grazing land, forcing herders to encroach further into forested areas, perpetuating a destructive cycle.[8]

The socioeconomic impact of animal grazing and deforestation is substantial. Livelihoods dependent on forest resources, such as indigenous communities and small-scale farmers, are adversely affected. Displacement, loss of access to natural resources, and conflicts between herders and farmers over land exacerbate the socioeconomic challenges faced by affected communities. Moreover, deforestation and land degradation have negative implications for agricultural productivity, food security, and overall economic development.[9]

Addressing the issue of animal grazing and deforestation in Nigeria requires a comprehensive approach. This includes the promotion of sustainable grazing practices, the implementation of effective land-use policies and regulations, the restoration of degraded areas, and the engagement of local communities and stakeholders in conservation efforts. It is essential to strike a balance between the economic needs of pastoralists and the preservation of forests, biodiversity, and ecosystem services for long-term sustainability.[10]

Herder-Farmer Conflicts

This section is an excerpt from Herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria.[edit]

Herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria are a series of disputes over arable land resources across Nigeria between the mostly-Muslim Fulani herders and the mostly-Christian non-Fulani farmers. The conflicts have been especially prominent in the Middle Belt (North Central) since the return of democracy in 1999. More recently, they have deteriorated into attacks on farmers by Fulani herdsmen.

Attacks have also taken place in Northwestern Nigeria against farmers who are mainly Hausa, who are almost entirely Muslim. Many Fulani communities, who are usually farmers, have also been attacked and raided by Fulani bandits and other militias.[11] Despite the conflict fundamentally being a land-use conflict between farmers and herders across Nigeria's Middle Belt, it has taken on dangerous religious and ethnic dimensions mostly because most of the farmers are Christians of various ethnicities while most of the herders are Muslim Fulani who make up about 90% of the country's pastoralists.[12] Thousands of people have died since the attacks began. Sedentary farming in rural communities are often target of attacks because of their vulnerability. There are fears that the conflict will spread to other West African countries, but that has often been downplayed by governments in the region. Attacks on herders have also led them to retaliating by attacking other communities.[13][14][15]

References

  1. ↑ OHDI (2020-10-07). "Livestock Production in Nigeria - A thriving Industry". One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI). Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  2. ↑ "Nigeria". www.ilri.org. 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  3. ↑ "Demand for farm animal products in Nigeria: An opportunity for Sahel Countries? - Inter-réseaux". www.inter-reseaux.org/ (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  4. 1 2 Amadou, Hamadoun; Dossa, Luc Hippolyte; Lompo, Désiré Jean-Pascal; Abdulkadir, Aisha; Schlecht, Eva (2012-03-20). "A comparison between urban livestock production strategies in Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria in West Africa". Tropical Animal Health and Production. 44 (7): 1631–1642. doi:10.1007/s11250-012-0118-0. ISSN 0049-4747. PMC 3433665. PMID 22430479.
  5. 1 2 Aribido, S O; Bolorunduro, B I (2004-12-13). "Implications of Ecological Changes on Sustainable Livestock Production in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria". Tropical Journal of Animal Science. 6 (2). doi:10.4314/tjas.v6i2.31080. ISSN 1119-4308.
  6. ↑ Junk, Wolfgang J.; Nunes da Cunha, Catia (2012-01-26). "Pasture clearing from invasive woody plants in the Pantanal: a tool for sustainable management or environmental destruction?". Wetlands Ecology and Management. 20 (2): 111–122. doi:10.1007/s11273-011-9246-y. ISSN 0923-4861. S2CID 255101759.
  7. ↑ Bilsborrow, Richard E.; DeLargy, Pamela F. (1990). "Land Use, Migration, and Natural Resource Deterioration: The Experience of Guatemala and the Sudan". Population and Development Review. 16: 125–147. doi:10.2307/2808067. ISSN 0098-7921. JSTOR 2808067.
  8. 1 2 Giday, Kidane; Humnessa, Bekele; Muys, Bart; Taheri, Fatemeh; Azadi, Hossein (2018-04-01). "Effects of livestock grazing on key vegetation attributes of a remnant forest reserve: The case of Desa'a Forest in northern Ethiopia". Global Ecology and Conservation. 14: e00395. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00395. hdl:1854/LU-8579187. ISSN 2351-9894. S2CID 135260948.
  9. ↑ ENVPK (2021-05-06). "Overgrazing – Causes, Effects and Solutions". Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  10. ↑ Ogboru, Tolulope; Adejonwo-Osho, Oluwatoyin (2018). "Towards an effective cattle grazing and rearing legal framework: an imperative for environmental protection". Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (The). 9 (1): 58–79. doi:10.4314/jsdlp.v9i1.4. ISSN 2467-8392.
  11. ↑ Salkida, Ahmad (2020-06-13). "Fulani: Villain And Victim Of Militia Attacks?". HumAngle. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  12. ↑ "Stopping Nigeria's Spiralling Farmer-Herder Violence". International Crisis Group. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  13. ↑ Ilo, Udo Jude; Jonathan-Ichaver, Ier; Adamolekun, 'Yemi (2019-01-24). "The Deadliest Conflict You've Never Heard of". Foreign Affairs: America and the World. ISSN 0015-7120. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  14. ↑ "Herdsmen and Farmers Conflict in Nigeria: A Threat to Peacebuilding and Human Security in West Africa | Africa Up Close". Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  15. ↑ "Nigeria school abductions sparked by cattle feuds, not extremism, officials say". Reuters. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
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