CONTRIBUTION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES TO REDUCING POVERTY VULNERABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Ecosystem services have gained attention as a potential tool for promoting sustainable development and natural resource management. Despite this, development agencies often overlook ecosystem services in their policies and plans. This study investigates the potential of ecosystem services to reduce poverty vulnerability in Ondo State, Nigeria. The study found that the study area is rich in multiple ecosystem services, including provisioning services such as crop production and water, regulating services such as carbon storage and crop pollination, supporting services such as habitat quality, and cultural services such as aesthetic quality and recreation & tourism. The mapping of these services provides a useful tool for decision-makers to incorporate ecosystem services into poverty vulnerability reduction plans. However, the study also identified hindrances such as oil spillage and lack of infrastructure to maximize the potential of ecosystem services to reduce poverty vulnerability in areas with high poverty especially in the coastal regions.

The study suggests that the success of the strategy to use ecosystem services to reduce poverty vulnerability depends on several factors, including governance, economic opportunities, and infrastructure. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive approach that considers multiple factors to reduce poverty vulnerability effectively. The findings have implications for sustainable development planning in Ondo State and other regions with similar ecosystems. It highlights opportunities that might not have been explored by development agencies and underscores the need for integrated approaches to natural resource management, considering the value of ecosystem services for sustainable development. It also provides valuable insights into how ecosystem services can be harnessed to promote sustainable development in Ondo State and beyond.

However, the study has some limitations, including model-based oversimplifications, the use of secondary data sources that may introduce errors and inaccuracies, and the lack of consideration of economic issues. Future research could address these limitations using more accurate and detailed data, incorporating economic considerations, and considering broader regional and national contexts.