Morphological and anatomical studies on Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze (Taccaceae) in Nigeria

Tacca leontopetaloides is the only species in the genus Tacca naturally distributed in the Guinea savannah and dry rainforest regions in Nigeria. The study was conducted to contribute to scientific knowledge on the macro-morphological and anatomical features of the plant collected from 4 locations (Akoko, Eruwa, Bazza and Ile-Ife) across the Nigeria and to determine the effect of environmental factors on its anatomy. Leaf epidermal peel of the 4 samples, leaf and stem Transverse Sections (T.S) and stem Tangential Longitudinal Section (T.L.S) and Radial Longitudinal Section (R.L.S) as well as stem fibres were prepared and studied. A wide range of similarities and differences were noted in the anatomical features of the 4 samples studied. The similarities include, but not limited to stomata being anomocytic, epidermis hypostomatic, cuticle single-layered and striated, vascular bundles conjointed collateral, epidermis undulating, stem rays uniserrate and procumbent, stem fibres non-septate and non-storeyed. Wide range of variations are noted in stomata density and measurements, epidermal cell density, guard cell measurements, cuticle thickness, vascular bundle arrangement, shapes of parenchyma and sclerenchyma cells and many other anatomical features. The variations observed among the samples studies were attributed to the prevailing environmental factors in each collection site.Morphological and anatomical studies on Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze (Taccaceae) in Nigeri

The State of Ex-Situ Conservation in Nigeria

Ex-situ conservation is the process of protecting an endangered species of plant or animal by removing part of the population from a threatened habitat and placing it in a new location, which may be a wild area or within the care of humans. There are several methods of ex-situ conservation being practiced in various parts of the world. However, the ex-situ conservation methods used in Nigeria include botanic and zoological gardens, arboretum, genebanks and in-vitro storage, a few DNA banks and cryopreservation efforts, and there are no active pollen banks. This paper reviews the state of the ex-situ conservation sites in Nigeria in order to bridge the information gaps on the ex-situ conservation of genetic resources in Nigeria. The research institutions, Universities and relevant non-Governmental organizations involved in the conservation of genetic resources ex-situ were taken into account, while their germplasm collections were stated. The challenges faced by ex-situ germplasm conservation were discussed and the role of the Government in improving those situations was emphasized

Management of protected areas in Sahel savannah ecoregion of Nigeria under the threat of desertification

This study was conducted to assess the challenges facing 8 selected protected areas in the Sahel Savannah ecoregion and proffer solutions to these challenges in order to ensure conservation and sustainability of Nigeria’s biodiversity. Primary data were collected from randomly-selected 120 staffs using questionnaire administration from 8 Forest Reserves within Borno and Yobe states of Nigeria. A high level of encroachment of all the studied protected areas was observed, which ranged from deforestation, overgrazing, poaching to converting protected areas into farmlands. Other notable challenges include poor staffing, inadequate equipment and funding. The respondents further reported that majority of the defaulters were farmers and local people in the area, involved in such practices for their survival in the wake of harsher climate and desert encroachment in the region. This paper calls for a revision of the Government Policy on Forestry in Nigeria to allow the people own and plant forests, implementation of community based forest resources management, provision of environment and user-friendly solar powered cooking stoves and sustainable farming systems such as crop rotation, intercropping, sustainable irrigation, organic farming and agroforestry. In addition, sources of income for the locals need to be diversified, such as honey bee production