Policy-Driven Approaches to Sustainable Microbial Conservation in Nigeria’s Natural Resource Management

Abstract

This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge and proposes a strategic framework for integrating microbial conservation into Nigeria's broader natural resource management agenda. It examines the fundamental roles microorganisms play in maintaining ecosystem services—including nutrient cycling, soil fertility, climate regulation, and water purification—within Nigeria's diverse biomes, from the derived savannahs to the Niger Delta. The paper highlights the significant knowledge and policy gap concerning microbial diversity in national conservation strategies, as evidenced by low public and professional awareness of biodiversity frameworks and the historical exclusion of microbes from global conservation instruments. Anthropogenic pressures such as charcoal production, deforestation, and pollution are shown to directly disrupt soil microbial communities and their critical functions, threatening system resilience. In response, this review advocates for a multifaceted and data-driven approach to microbial stewardship. Key recommendations include the adoption of microbial indicators for environmental monitoring, the urgent development of a national microbial database, the promotion of microbiome-based restoration techniques, and the implementation of robust policies and cross-sectoral education programs. Aligning with the mission of the IUCN’s newly established Microbial Conservation Specialist Group (MCSG), this review positions the strategic conservation of Nigeria's microbial heritage as a non-negotiable foundation for achieving sustainable development, public health security, and ecological resilience in the face of environmental change.