Shallow Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation in Urhoboland of Nigeria's Niger Delta

Abstract

One of the gravest environmental problems confronting planet Earth is biodiversity loss. This refers to the destruction of animal species, plant species, or other organisms, especially due to anthropogenic activities. This problem is affecting many regions in the world such as Urhoboland in Nigeria's Niger Delta. Biodiversity which refers to the diversities and varieties of all life forms in a community or location contributes vitally to human health, survival, and the well-being of the entire ecological system. In Urhoboland, biodiversity has been lost through oil and gas exploration, agricultural and industrial activities, herdsmen attacks and violence, and other things that pollute the land. Through a critical hermeneutics and analytic method the paper argues that many anthropogenic activities as listed above are informed or inspired by a shallow ecology that sees the only value of biodiversity or the ecosystems as human utility. The ideology of shallow ecology sees no need to pay attention to conservation unless it benefits humans. The paper shows that plants, animals, and other organisms have value and worth of their own and not simply because they are valuable to human beings. This being the case, biodiversity should be conserved in places such as Urhoboland. The paper concludes that if this is done, it will help to create a sustainable Urhoboland