The Role of Women in Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria (2025 Guide)

Philip SifonSeptember 19, 20250592 views

When people discuss protecting nature, women are often overlooked, despite their significant contributions to environmental care. In many parts of Nigeria, especially in rural areas, women collect and cultivate local seeds, protect wild plants, and use knowledge passed down from mothers and grandmothers to care for the land. They know how to farm in ways that keep the soil healthy and how to gather food, medicine, and firewood without harming nature.

The role of women in biodiversity conservation is both powerful and personal. Their daily work helps protect forests, rivers, and diverse species of plants and animals. Yet, despite their efforts, they rarely receive the recognition and support they deserve.

This article explores what women are doing to protect nature in Nigeria, why their role is so important, and why real conservation cannot happen without them.

Understanding the Role of Women in Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria

In rural Nigeria, women interact with nature daily, collecting firewood, managing crops, harvesting herbs, and maintaining water sources.

That constant interaction makes them frontline defenders of biodiversity. They are often the first to notice when a plant disappears, when soil begins to degrade, or when animal patterns change.

1. Protecting Indigenous Seeds and Crops

Women play a central role in protecting native seed varieties. They store, exchange, and cultivate indigenous crops that are adapted to local conditions, drought-resistant, and nutrient-rich. This work helps maintain crop diversity in regions where monoculture is threatening ecosystems and contributing to biodiversity loss in Nigeria.

For more insights on seed preservation and food security, visit FAO on women farmers and biodiversity.

2. Practicing Rotational Farming and Agroforestry

Many women farmers use small-scale rotation systems, mixing crops with trees or legumes.

This approach protects soil health, boosts yields, and maintains ecological balance. It also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which are a major driver of environmental challenges in Nigeria.

3. Using Traditional Knowledge to Manage Medicinal Plants

In communities where hospitals are far away, women rely on traditional ecological knowledge to preserve medicinal plants.

They know where to find them, when to harvest them, and how much to take without exhausting the ecosystem. This practice supports both community healthcare and biodiversity conservation.

For global context, see UN Women on gender and environment.

4. Restoring Degraded Lands with Local Methods

Rural women in Nigeria have been restoring degraded lands using simple but effective methods for generations.

They cover the soil with materials such as dry leaves, grass, or old plant waste. This technique keeps the ground cool, retains moisture, and prevents weeds from growing too quickly.

It may look simple, but it works. These practices show how conservation can thrive without expensive tools or machinery.

Women, Seed Saving, and Indigenous Agriculture in Nigeria

The role of women in biodiversity conservation in Nigeria is deeply tied to their farming practices.

In rural areas, women do more than produce food. They maintain farming systems that naturally protect ecosystems. Their knowledge is rooted in generations of hands-on experience.

Traditional methods such as crop rotation, intercropping, and mulching help protect soil, reduce dependence on chemicals, and support native biodiversity.

Women also pass down this ecological knowledge, teaching younger generations how to care for the land without harming it. These small daily actions help slow biodiversity loss in Nigeria.

For a related perspective, read Top Benefits of Eco-Tourism in Nigeria for Local Communities (2025).

Challenges Facing Women in Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria

Despite their critical role, women in Nigeria face barriers that limit their ability to contribute to conservation.

Land Ownership: In many rural communities, women do not own the land they farm. Without secure land rights, they cannot make long-term plans or adopt new conservation methods.
Recognition: Women’s contributions are rarely recognized as conservation, even though they manage seeds, soil health, and ecosystems daily.
Limited Access to Funding and Training: Many women lack access to modern tools, resources, or training programs.
Exclusion from Policy: Women are often excluded from conservation research and decision-making, despite their local expertise.

These challenges reduce the impact of their work and undermine broader biodiversity efforts.

Evidence of Women’s Impact on Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria

There is growing evidence that the role of women in biodiversity conservation in Nigeria works.

Villages where women lead seed-saving practices have greater crop variety, which strengthens food security.
Women’s farming groups cultivate more diverse crops and have revived native vegetables that were nearly extinct.
In regions such as Gombe and Ebonyi, women’s cooperatives have slowed erosion and improved soil fertility, with support from UN Women.

These examples prove that biodiversity conservation is not limited to laboratories or large reserves. It is happening daily in farms, homes, and communities.

How to Strengthen the Role of Women in Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria

Women are already leading conservation efforts, but they need more support. Here are practical steps to amplify their impact:

Secure Land Ownership: Granting women land rights ensures long-term sustainability.
Provide Tools and Training: Modern tools and climate information would increase productivity.
Inclusion in Programs: Women must be included in conservation planning and policymaking.
Market Access: Support for storage, packaging, and transport can help women farmers reach wider markets.
Support Women-Led Cooperatives: Funding and visibility can expand the impact of grassroots groups already restoring ecosystems.

Conclusion: Recognizing Women as Leaders in Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria

The role of women in biodiversity conservation in Nigeria is active, practical, and deeply rooted in rural life. From saving native seeds to restoring soil with simple tools, women are not just contributors to conservation, they are leaders.

However, they need stronger support. Excluding women from land rights, training, and policy discussions weakens conservation efforts across the country.

Investing in women, strengthening indigenous agriculture, and recognizing their contributions are smart strategies for protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity.

If you want to support conservation in Nigeria, start by listening to the women who have been protecting the environment all along.

Gain more insights;

Frequently Asked Questions on the Role of Women in Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria

What is the role of women in biodiversity conservation in Nigeria?

Women play a crucial role in conservation by protecting indigenous seeds, practicing sustainable farming, restoring degraded lands, and passing down ecological knowledge to future generations.

Why are women important in biodiversity conservation in Nigeria?

Women interact daily with the environment through farming, seed saving, and water management. Their practical knowledge helps protect ecosystems while ensuring food and community survival.

What challenges do women face in environmental conservation in Nigeria?

Women face barriers such as lack of land ownership, exclusion from policymaking, limited recognition, and poor access to training and funding.

How do women in rural Nigeria contribute to conservation?

Rural women preserve traditional farming methods, cultivate diverse crops, and use local techniques to restore degraded soils and manage medicinal plants sustainably.

How can Nigeria support women in biodiversity conservation?

Nigeria can strengthen women-led conservation by providing land rights, better tools, training opportunities, market access, and inclusion in environmental policies.