Effects of Agricultural Practices and Socio-economic Characteristics on Biodiversity in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria Gyanden Peter Kughur; Mtimbir Grace Iornenge; Ismaila Shuaibu Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2373 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria he study assessed the effects of agricultural practices on biodiversity in Olamaboro Local Government Are of Kogi State, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) farmers (respondents) were sampled using simple random sampling technique from five council wards (30 farmers per council ward). Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Logit regression model. Results showed that 63% of the respondents were male, 56% were between 21-40 years, 61% were married, 46% were farmers, 58% acquired their land by inheritance with 24% having farming experience of 11-15 years and 37% owned a farm size between 1.01-2.0 hectares. Biodiversity was mostly lost through application of herbicides 36%, losses were more significant on species 48%, and use of agrochemical affected biodiversity most 43%. The results of Logit regression revealed that gender and land acquisition were some of the socio-economic characteristics that significantly affected biodiversity losses (p<0.10). It is recommended that agricultural practices with minimum disturbance to biodiversity should be practiced. 1. Introduction The importance and value of biodiversity for human well-being is recognized globally, both in terms of its intrinsic and cultural value as well as the role it plays in providing essential ecosystem services. Indeed, amongst the public, there is widespread concern for the environment and biodiversity in particular, as expressed through environmental NGOs and pressure groups (Poláková et al., 2011). Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. Biodiversity, therefore, is understood as relating not just to species, but also to genetic diversity, habitats and ecosystems, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992). Agriculture has been practiced in Nigeria for centuries, modifying the natural environment to the extent that there is little remaining natural habitat. These trends do not just impact upon biodiversity on farmland. By impacting on the provision of other ecosystem services, such as water quality or air quality, biodiversity in the wider environment is also affected. Most natural agricultural habitats, and virtually all natural forests, have now been lost as a result of these activities, as well as forest clearance and the conversion of grasslands to croplands (for cultivated and permanent crops). It is clear from numerous studies, including Winspear et al. (2010); Poláková et al. (2011); CBD (2008); Winqvist et al. (2011) that these changes have had major impacts on biodiversity. This is because the key determinant of the richness and abundance of biodiversity associated with agricultural habitats is the degree to which they have T Keywords: Effects, agriculture, practices, biodiversity, Olamaboro International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems (IJASRT in EESs) Available online on: http://ijasrt.iau-shoushtar.ac.ir ISSN: 2251-7588 Print ISSN: 2251-7596 Online 2017: 7(1):1-9 Received: 30 November 2016 Reviewed: 25 February 2017 Revised: 3 March 2017 Accepted: 19 March 2017 Abstract