Niger Delta Ecosystems: the ERA Handbook/Prologue

by Nick Ashton-Jones, with Oronto Douglas and Susi Arnott

1 PROLOGUE

1.1 THE FIRST EDITION

ERA is constantly asked for information about the Niger Delta, based upon its work in the area since 1993. Thus we are issuing a first edition of the ERA Handbook to the Niger Delta, despite the book's many imperfections. Moreover, although ERA by no means claim to have the last word on the subject of the Niger Delta, we feel we have a duty to make available all the information we have to as wide a public as we can. The aim of the book is two-fold:

• First, to enable anyone working in the Niger Delta to become confident about the ecology of the area and to feel able to make objective and scientifically secure judgements about the environmental problems which the area is facing
• Second, to present an accurate picture of the area to anyone who is interested in it, for whatever reason, and who is unable to visit.

Please bear with the numerous typographic errors and with the scarcity of illustrations.

1.2 THE ONLINE EDITION

This online edition is dedicated to the late Oronto N.Douglas of Okoroba. He insisted on facilitating the 1993 Niger Delta survey on which the handbook is based; without him, it could never have been achieved.

Oronto qualified in law in Port Harcourt, and was a founder member of ERA. He subsequently studied environmental law as a Chevening Scholar at De Montfort University, Leicester, before returning to Nigeria and becoming well known as a human rights activist in the Delta. Oronto was also a poet.

1.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A great deal of participatory information was gathered during the ERA surveys of 1993 and 1994. It is hoped that all this will be included as an appendix to the second edition of the book. Meanwhile it is available on request.

1.4 SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE

Finally, we would like to thank the following individuals and organisations: river-scouts Escort, Brownson, Clarkson and Elegy, Babatunde, Caroline Knight, Marie Bystrom, Dr. Justine Dunn, George Frynas, Liza Gadsby, Sir John Gunston, Phil and Frances Hall, Dr. Miriam Isoun, Ronnie Siakor, Prof. Turner Isoun, Tasso Leventis, Dr. Forbes McLean, Bronwen Mamby, Judy Nwonodi, Dr. Julian Caldecott, Chidi Odinkalu, Osas Osas, Laura Robinson, Chief and Mrs. S.T. Owei, County Biomoni, Goodnews Barabura, Alan Daniel, Joseph Onwukwen, Chief Fabian Ndine, Gibson Beke, Bari Kumbe, Oliver Ogbopina, Emmaneul Bonny, The West Brothers, Doris Douglas, Sammy Boy, Friends of the Earth International, The Netherlands Committee of the International Union of Nature Conservation, Pro-Natural International and many others.

1.5 THE MAPS

1. • Map 1 Africa

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2. • Map 2 West Africa

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3. • Map 3a Nigeria

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4. • Map 3b The Niger Delta

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5. • Map 4 Ecozones (approximate)

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6. • Map 5 Oil and Gas Infrastructure

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7. • Map 6 Ogoni

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8. • Map 7 Botem

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9. • Map 8 Anyama to Brass

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10. • Map 9 Anyama

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11. • Map 10 Akassa

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12. • Map 11 Okoroba to Nembe

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13. • Map 12 Okoroba

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14. • Map 13 Port Harcourt

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1.6 THE FIGURES

•	Fig I	Some Root Forms	22
•	Fig II	Propagules	23
•	Fig III	Tidal Step	24
•	Fig IIIA	Sand Barrier Islands	25
•	Fig IV	Fresh-water Landscape	26
•	Fig V	Idealised Soil Profile	27
•	Fig VI	Accumulation of Oil	28
•	Fig VII	Diagram of an Oil Well	29