44 T R O P I C A L C O N S E R V A N C Y IntroductIon Nigeria covers a total area of 923,768 km square with a population of 140,431,790 in 2006 (NPC 2009). As a result of its large land area, the country covers different climatic and ecological zones (Fig. 1). Nigeria is rich in biodiversity, with an array of fauna and lora. This includes about 20,000 species of insects, almost 1,000 species of birds, 247 species of mammals, 123 species of reptiles, about 1,000 species of ish and about 7,895 species of plants (Federal Government of Nigeria 2001). The policy on Forestry, Wildlife and Protected areas is part of the broad National Policy on the Environment developed in 1989 (Federal Republic of Nigeria 1989) and later revised in 1999 (Federal Government of Nigeria 2001). The main goal of the policy is to achieve sustainable development in the country with particular emphasis on the following: • Maintaining environmental quality adequate for the health and wellbeing of all Nigerians. • Conserving the environment and natural resources to beneit present and future generation of Nigerians. • Restoring, maintaining and enhancing the ecosystems and ecological processes which are necessary for proper functioning of the environment. • Raising public awareness and promoting public understanding of the important linkages between the environment and development. • Cooperating with other countries and international organizations to preserve the environment. Apart from the broad policy goals stated above, some speciic strategies for achieving these goals in relation to the Policy on Forestry, Wildlife and Protected Areas include: • To encourage “rational exploitation” of our forest resources to satisfy local consumption and attain a signiicant export level in the long term. • Regulation of forestry activities to ensure “conservation and environmentally sound management practices”. • Strengthening of forest protection activities in marginal areas to prevent harmful changes in such areas. • Encouraging afforestation and reforestation programmes with the aim of reversing the effects of deforestation. • Supporting Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and tree planting programmes of local communities. • Supporting the development of other alternative sources of energy while encouraging the development of more eficient way of wood energy utilization (Federal Republic of Nigeria 1989). This is a regulatory policy aimed at protection and conservation. It came about because of the need to ensure the survival, protection and proper management of forests and wildlife for the use of the present and future generations. ratIonal behInd conservatIon For a better understanding of the government’s policy on forestry, wildlife and protected areas, it is important to consider the conditions that necessitated state intervention in this environmental issue. First, there was the problem of increasing deforestation as a result of farming, construction and lumbering activities. There was therefore, the need to prevent the total destruction of forests in the country. Secondly, the rapid rate of soil degradation and desertiication especially in marginal areas was another important reason for a positive action towards conserving the natural environment. Cultivation, cutting of irewood, and iring of the bush for farming and game was destroying the natural vegetation cover and exposing the soil to erosion. Thirdly, there was the need to control the rapid rate of destruction of wild animals especially with the increasing danger of extinction of some species. Finally, it was realized that creation of game reserves could turn such areas into tourist centres. The total forest area of all types in Nigeria was Nigerian forestry, wildlife and protected areas: Status report Authors’ Addresses: Usman, B. A. Department of Geography, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, University of Ilorin bolicon2004@yahoo. co.uk Adefalu, L. L. Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin. abstract. The paper examines the Nigerian National policy on Wildlife, Forestry and Protected Areas. Though conservation efforts have a long history in the country, achievements are not encouraging. The implementation of the policy has not achieved the desired result of properly conserving the country’s biodiversity; a variety of plants and animals in the country are seriously threatened today. Massive deforestation, desertification and large-scale erosion continue in various parts of the country. Various problems have been identified as obstacles to effective conservation in the country. These include the problems of inadequate data on the status of biodiversity, uncoordinated land-use policy and inadequate allocation of funds and manpower. There is also the problem of the high rate of rural and urban poverty in the country, which makes enforcement difficult. Various measures are suggested to promote better environmental forestry and wildlife conservation. These include improving the legal frameworks for conservation management in the country and expanding research into forest biology and economics. Other solutions proffered are the provision of basic education on conservation for the general population and the proper funding of protected areas and conservation programmes in the country. Key words. Nigerian National policy, deforestation, desertification, conservation management. Usman, B. A. and Adefalu, L. L.