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Intl. J. of Mol. Ecol. and Conserv. 2012, Vol. 2, No.2 8-14
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Table 2 Species distribution according to Family
destruction is serious due to astronomical increase in
human populations at a dangerous rate. Secondly,
science is unraveling better uses for biological
diversity in ways of alleviating both human troubles
and environmental destruction. Thirdly, lots of the
diversity are being irreversibly disappeared and may
be extinction caused by the habitat destruction, which
is widespread in Africa than elsewhere (Wilson, 1988).
Dasman et al (1973) agreed that forest exploitation
leads to the extinction of animals and plants whose
genetic resources are of considerable value to present
and future generations
(
Frankel, 1970). Forest
depletion has resulted in the natural environment
destabilization and genetic resources erosion
throughout the southern part of Nigeria in order to
meet the population sustenance and financial
requirements of government i.e. the social, economic,
demographic and political needs (Soladoye et al.,
2005). Therefore, it is inevitable to exploit the forests.
Opinions are divided however on vegetation depletion
which is considered as a loss of natural heritage
(Soladoye et al., 2005). Harvey and Hallet (1977)
posits that it may not be profitable to preserve natural
resources for descendants in any case because it is
inadequate to state the future requirements, aspirations,
lifestyles and needs of rural people now. Should we be
waiting for the needs to be stated before we take
action? Definitely not because all of these genetic
resources would have disappeared before the needs
are exactly stated (Soladoye et al., 2005). Hence,
conservation is paramount to human welfare and has
close relationship to human survival (Allen, 1980).
Absence of conservation measures will result
possibilities in an increasing number of endangered
species and this will ultimately lead to elimination,
which is the gradual but sure extinction of taxa
(Allaby, 1998). The risk of eventual extinction is the
most severe problem for many of the species that are
already endangered if human beings do not pay
attention to activities such as land development,
logging and pollution. Gbile et al (1981a, 1981b)
revealed that about four hundred and eighty plant
species of the Nigerian flora have been described as
endangered or rare, out of which many of these are
being studied at the Forestry Research Institute of
Nigeria, Ibadan. Apart from the gradual loss of
biodiversity, the devastating environmental disasters in
urban and rural areas of Nigeria indicate that these
environments are under going on in the campus it is
therefore a commendable deep scientific conclusion that
Family
Number of species
Acathanceae
1
Agavaceae
2
Amaranthaceae
3
Anacardiaceae
2
Annonaceae
2
Apocynaceae
2
Asclepiadaceae
1
Astraceae
2
Bignonaceae
1
Boraginaceae
3
Caesalpinaceae
3
Capparidaceae
1
Ceasalpinaceae
2
Chrysobalanaceae
1
Cocchlospermaceae
1
Combretaceae
2
Commelinaceae
1
Compositae
1
Connaraceae
1
Convolvulaceae
3
Cyperaceae
2
Discoreaceae
1
Euphorbiaceae
8
Gramineae
19
Hymnenocardiaceae
1
Icacinaceae
1
Labiatae
2
Loganiaceae
1
Lpapilionaceae
2
Malvaceae
2
Merispermaceae
2
Mimosaceae
3
Moraceae
2
Ochroceae
1
Olaceae
1
Papilionaceae
9
Papsifloraceae
1
Pedaliaceceae
1
Periplocaceae
1
Phytolaceae
1
Polygalaceae
1
Rubiaceae
4
Sapindaceae
2
Sapotaceae
2
Scrophulariaceae
1
Solanaceae
1
Sterculiceae
1
Tiliaceae
2
Ulmaceae
1
Urticaceae
1
Vataceae
1
Verbernaceae
1
Zingiberaceae
1