Cross–Niger transition forests

Cross–Niger transition forests
Cross–Niger transition forests
	Afrotropical
Biome	Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Geography
Area	20,700 km2 (8,000 sq mi)
Country	Nigeria
Coordinates	5°30′N 7°24′E / 5.5°N 7.4°E
Conservation
Conservation status	critical

The Cross–Niger transition forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southeastern Nigeria, located between the Niger River on the west and the Cross River on the east. Once a rich mixture of tropical forest and savanna woodland covered these low, rolling hills but today, this is one of the most densely populated areas of Africa and today most of the forest has been removed and the area is now grassland.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Location and description

The ecoregion known as the Cross Niger Transition Forests is situated between the biogeographic regions of the Niger River and the Cross River. Due to the high agricultural intensity in this ecoregion, the majority of the natural tree cover has been removed.

Guinean forest-savanna mosaic

of the drier interior.

The climate is wet, becoming drier further inland, with a dry season from December to February.

Flora

The native flora and fauna of the ecoregion is "transitional", blending elements from the Upper Guinean forests include Afzelia, which is cultivated for timber, and the Borassus aethiopum palm.

Fauna

Small areas of protected

Trioceros cristatus). The Niger River has always been a substantial barrier to movement of wildlife in and out of the region. Large mammals have been depleted in the area since the 1940s and there is now so little wildlife remaining in the area that even bats and frogs

are now trapped and eaten.

Threats

The ecoregion has sustained a dense human

Anambra

and elsewhere but these last are mostly for the purpose of cultivating timber rather than preserving the original environment.

Pollution

References

^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
^ "Cross–Niger transition forests". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
^ "Cross–Niger transition forests". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
^ Ansah, C. E., Abu, I. O., Kleemann, J., Mahmoud, M. I., & Thiel, M. (2022). Environmental Contamination of a Biodiversity Hotspot—Action Needed for Nature Conservation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Sustainability, 14(21), 14256.
^ "Cross-Niger Transition Forests". Fortune of Africa | Investment in Africa. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
^ "South East Region". My Guide Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-07-05.

External links

"Cross-Niger transition forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

[ecomap-1] "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve. Retrieved August 20, 2021.

[dopa-2] "Cross–Niger transition forests". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved August 20, 2021.

[eoe-3] "Cross–Niger transition forests". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 20, 2021.

[4] Ansah, C. E., Abu, I. O., Kleemann, J., Mahmoud, M. I., & Thiel, M. (2022). Environmental Contamination of a Biodiversity Hotspot—Action Needed for Nature Conservation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Sustainability, 14(21), 14256.

[5] "Cross-Niger Transition Forests". Fortune of Africa | Investment in Africa. Retrieved 2023-07-05.

[6] "South East Region". My Guide Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-07-05.

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