Biodiversity conservation of the neglected and underutilized Nigerian horticultural crops

Abstract Biodiversity is fundamental for ecosystem functioning, sustainable crop production, soil health, and attainment of food nutrition security. Loss biodiversity in Africa across the globe, its negative impacts on security, climate, health must be curbed. African indigenous underutilized crops are not likely to cause diet-related diseases. In addition, some them cannot adversely affected by climate change, they also require minimum agronomic input yield optimally. Besides supplying appropriate proportions essential minerals, horticultural can reduce hunger alleviate poverty. While abiotic stresses like low/high temperature, drought, light intensity, sub-optimal relative humidity will have exotic plants growth development, seldom affected. It great importance that neglected plant species (NUS) serve a dual purpose as man well animal feed. Despite these crucial roles NUS play, still threatened with neglect potentials maximized. This paper discusses strategies adopted conserve their optimum utilization, Nigerian rain forest prototypes. Deliberate identification cultivation NUS, establishment gene field banks, recognition promotion through national special research development programmes, use media, including social, extension agents agencies, linking relevant industries food, feed, pharmaceuticals, conservation diversified farming systems etc. major key Climate-smart agriculture.