A Review of Nigeria and The United States of America’s Environment and Desertification

Abstract

The process by which vegetation in drylands like arid and semi-arid lands, like grasslands decreases and eventually disappears is called desertification. Vegetation resources in Nigeria and the USA are important for the development of the countries. This resource is in danger because of climate-induced impacts. Northern states in Nigeria and New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and Navajo Indians in the USA experienced it. The study analyzed, and juxtaposed desertification in Nigeria and the USA. Historical and case study designs were adopted. Doctrinal method was used in data collection. The primary sources of data were the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 40 Vol. dated 03/05/2011, and the National Environmental Standard and Regulation Enforcement Agency Act 2007; sources of secondary data were published textbooks, scholarly peer-reviewed journals, and articles. Data were content-analyzed and presented thematically. Findings revealed that land degradation caused global warming. Ranching, mining, clearing of land, and emission generation contributed to a rise in temperatures and a reduction in precipitation, human interventions created a vicious cycle that exacerbated. It reduced soil productivity, environmental hazards, food insecurity, loss of biodiversity, and ecosystem problems in both countries. The study concluded that the involvement of the governments in curbing desertification yielded no result. It recommended the need for proactive action and management efforts warranting, the changing of climate in Nigeria and the USA. Local bodies should restore soil fertility. World Bank should fund ecological restoration, and fixing of dunes in the countries. There should be tree-planting, to promote public awareness of the presence of desertification and drought.