Page:Niger Delta Ecosystems- the ERA Handbook, 1998.djvu/117

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The Resources of the Niger Delta

  • this current Chapter (eleven) covers land, water and fish;
  • Chapter twelve covers forests;
  • Chapter thirteen, soil and agriculture;
  • Chapter fourteen, oil and gas; and
  • Chapter fifteen, the impact of oil mining.

11.2 LAND

ECOZONE APPROX. AREA MAJOR ACTIVITIES
Lowland Equatorial Monsoon (LEM) 7400km²
  • Oil extraction and infrastructure;
  • Arable agriculture;
  • Oil palm and rubber; and
  • Urban & industrial.
Freshwater (FAM) 11700km²
  • Oil extraction and infrastructure;
  • Traditional forest exploitation;
  • Modern forestry;
  • Raffia and Oil palm;
  • Rice and arable agriculture; and
  • Fishing.
Brackish water (BAM) 5400km²
  • Oil extraction and infrastructure;
  • Traditional mangrove exploitation; and
  • Port and associated activities.
Sand Barrier Islands 1140km²
  • Oil industry and infrastructure, including major terminals;
  • Fishing; and
  • Raffia and Oil Palm.
TOTAL 25649km²  

In relation to the land resource in the Niger Delta, two issues need to be explained: reclamation and population density.

Human Population Density in the Niger Delta

The issue of land and human population density is important in relation to the development pressure that is put on the Niger Delta. At a glance the area seems to have

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