Environmental Degradation Resulting from Oil Exploitation, and Population Displacement in the NigerDelta, Nigeria

Oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria began some fifty four （54） years ago. Since the early sixties till now, oil from this region of the Nigeria has been the major foreign exchange earner for the sustenance of the economy. Unfortunate to note is the fact that since oil exploration and exploitation began in the country in the Niger Delta, the region had not been at peace. The region had suffered all forms of environmental degradation resulting from crude oil spillage and gas flares. The peoples＇ source of livelihood has been destabilized thereby leading to high rate of poverty, social crises/conflict and involuntary migration of people for both security and succour. The people of the region are thus in severe pains and risk of extermination should the present trend of environmental degradation and negligence persist. Thus, this paper addresses the plight of the Niger Delta as a case study of the effect of environmental degradation on human vulnerability. It is believed that continuous existence of the Niger Delta people as a social sect is dependent on how prompt efforts are made to combat the environment nuisance in the region.

IMPACT OF OIL FIELD EXPLOITATION ON ECO-ENVIRONMENT OF THE DAQING LAKES

The Daqing lakes are located in the region with sub-humid continent al monsoon climate. Through historical comparison of the environment before and after oil field exploitation in the area, the paper analyses the impact of oil f ield exploitation on the eco-environment of the lakes, including the impact of diversion works, drainage works, exploitation and utilization of groundwater, dr opped crude oil and petrochemical wastewater on the lakes water body. The analys is shows that oil field exploitation caused serious pollution to soil in the lak es area and deterioration of the eco-environment. The impact became more eviden t with passage of time, and the intensity varied with areas, getting more seriou s from west to east, which meant that the eastern part of the lakes were influen ced much more seriously by the human activities. To improve the eco-environment of the Daqing lakes and make them sustainable utilization, the effective protec tion measures should be taken.

Influences of chronic contamination of oil field exploitation on soil nematode communities at the Yellow River Delta of China

Oil production related activities have led to many environmental problems.Around 80%of the total output of crude oil is generated from terrestrial oilfields in the world.However,the impact of oil exploitation procedures on soil animal communities has not been fully understood.This study investigated the responses of soil nematode communities to the oil exploitation activities in the Yellow River Delta of China.By setting 10 oilfield sites and 5 relatively uncontaminated sites(controls),we found that the content of soil total petroleum hydrocarbons(TPH)was significantly higher at oilfield sites than at controls.With a longer oil exploitation history,the content of soil TPH increased.Soil nematode community structure at oilfield sites was largely different from that at controls.Soil nematodes were significantly less abundant but more diverse at oilfield sites than at controls.The proportions of fungal feeders were significantly lower at oilfield sites than at controls,attaining only half of those at controls.The nematode trophic diversity and genus number negatively correlated with the duration of petroleum exploitation history.This study elucidated the difference in soil nematode communities caused by oilfield exploitation and indicated that the nematode diversity was most obviously influenced by the soil TPH content and the oil exploitation history.