IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

JOURNAL OF LAW AND GLOBAL POLICY (JLGP )

E-ISSN 2579-051X
P-ISSN 2695-2424
VOL. 10 NO. 1 2025
DOI: 10.56201/JLGP.vol.10.no1.2025.pg54.66

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Legal Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation in Southern Nigeria: Lessons from International Laws

Happy Pereela Omodu

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Abstract

Southern Nigeria is currently facing a profound environmental crisis characterized by rapidly rising sea levels, recurrent and intensified flooding, and widespread ecological degradation. These developments pose a growing threat to human settlements, critical infrastructure, and fragile ecosystems. Alarmingly, government projections suggest that over 30 Nigerian states could soon be impacted by severe flood events, amplifying the urgency for a robust and integrated legal response. Biodiversity loss is occurring at an unprecedented rate, with many indigenous plant and animal species either endangered or already extinct due to unsustainable land use practices, deforestation, urban sprawl, and pollution. This paper critically evaluates Nigeria’ s biodiversity conservation framework, with a particular focus on Southern Nigeria, where the ecological stakes are highest. Through a doctrinal and comparative legal approach, it investigates the effectiveness of existing national environmental laws and the institutions responsible for enforcing them, including the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the National Parks Service. It explores Nigeria’ s legal obligations under key international and regional environmental instruments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Nagoya Protocol, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (African Nature Convention). Furthermore, the paper draws on international legal principles and judicial precedents, including those from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to assess Nigeria’ s compliance with transboundary environmental obligations. Recommendations include harmonizing domestic laws with international norms, improving institutional coordination, and integrating indigenous knowledge into conservation strategies to enhance biodiversity protection in Southern N

keywords:

biodiversity, legal, conservation, environmental law

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