Bamboo, Conservation of Environment and Sustainable Development in Nigeria

The problem of environmental degradation is becoming very real in Nigeria. It is also becoming a major source of insecurity locally. In recent times, flooding which affects most parts of the country has resulted in displacement of communities in most states of the federation. While flooding is largely a natural phenomenon, the upgrading of environmental infrastructure should be complemented with bamboo plantation in areas susceptible to flooding. Other precursors of environmental degradation in Nigeria are deforestation, unwholesome agricultural practices and minerals exploitation. These have led to large tracts of degraded lands inform of gully and sheet erosion, degradation of arable land, vegetation and landscape. Bamboo in view of its special characteristics which includes high growth rate, high rate of carbon sequestration, strong potentials for poverty alleviation, its ability to grow on marginal and degraded lands and its erosion control potentials imbued by widespread rooting system has great potentials for reclaiming degraded lands in the country. Thus, the plant can be used to control gully and sheet erosion, reclaiming of degraded agricultural lands and bioremediation. Bamboo also has several industrial uses. It has successfully being used in the chemical and pharmaceutical, textile, wood and wood products and pulp and paper industrial sectors in several countries around the globe. The initiation and pursuance of a bamboo based industrial development policy will have multiple advantageous effects on the both the Nigerian environment and economy.