The Disappearing Gifts of Nature are no longer just a matter of poetic nostalgia or environmental concern; they are an undeniable reality that stares us in the face every day. Across Northern Nigeria, a gradual yet painful transformation is unfolding. Rivers that once danced freely across the plains have dried into cracked earth. Trees that once stood as ancient guardians of the land have been reduced to stumps or memories. Honey, once drawn from wild hives tucked within hollow trees and rocky crevices, has now become a scarce commodity often cultivated artificially. The natural resources that once defined the region’s identity and sustained its communities are vanishing, and with them, a part of our cultural soul is fading too.
Years ago, nature blessed Northern Nigeria with a rich bounty. It was a land where towering trees offered not just shade but fruit, timber, and medicine. Mango trees in particular stood like proud giants in nearly every compound, producing fruit so abundant that they often fell uneaten. Children swam in clear rivers, herders led cattle through thick groves, and wild bees colonized logs, pits, and even homes without human interference. Nature was not something we visited; it was the fabric of our lives.
But today, a different picture emerges. Trees that once defined rural landscapes have vanished. Mango trees are fewer, smaller, and bear less fruit. Timber trees like mahogany and locust bean are rarely found outside protected areas. The baobab, a symbol of strength and resilience, is now threatened in several areas due to urban expansion and firewood collection. Riverbeds that were once the pride of villages lie dry or reduced to shallow, muddy trickles. Lakes like Chad, once mighty, have shrunk by more than 90% over the past few decades, leaving behind displaced fishermen and barren shores.
Among the most symbolic losses is the disappearance of wild honey. There was a time when one could venture into the bush and return with litres of natural honey, harvested from hives nestled in trees, cliffs, or termite mounds. It required skill, respect for nature, and courage. Today, not only are wild hives rare, but the tradition of natural honey harvesting is also fading. The bees themselves are endangered due to pesticides, loss of habitat, and climate stress.
This quiet crisis poses an urgent question: What is causing the disappearance of these gifts of nature?
The answers are many and interconnected. One of the main culprits is deforestation. Logging for timber, firewood, and charcoal has stripped vast areas of land of their tree cover. Urbanization and infrastructure development have replaced forests with concrete, and roads now cut through once-dense habitats. Agricultural expansion, driven by population growth and food insecurity, has also led to large-scale clearing of woodlands.
Climate change is another powerful force. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and prolonged droughts have dried up rivers, reduced crop yields, and triggered desertification. In areas like Yobe, Borno, and Katsina, once-productive farmlands are turning into dust bowls. Climate variability has also affected pollination cycles, contributing to the decline of fruit trees and bee populations.
Overgrazing and poor land management further accelerate land degradation. Nomadic herding practices, once sustainable, now struggle to adapt to the pressures of shrinking pastures and increased competition for water and grazing land. The lack of reforestation or land recovery initiatives only worsens the situation.
Moreover, neglect of environmental education and policy enforcement has allowed these issues to worsen unchecked. Many rural communities lack awareness of sustainable practices, while regulatory bodies either lack the capacity or the will to enforce environmental protection laws. The result is a cycle of exploitation without renewal.
Beyond environmental degradation, the loss of natural resources also threatens economic and cultural survival. Honey production, timber trade, fruit farming, and fishing have supported livelihoods for generations. Their disappearance means increased poverty, migration, and conflict over dwindling resources. It also means the loss of stories, traditions, and practices that have been passed down through centuries.
For instance, children born today may never learn how to climb a mango tree or fish in the stream near their grandfather’s house. They may never taste the pure, rich honey drawn from the wild, or sit under the shade of a towering shea butter tree as stories are told. As the gifts of nature disappear, so too does a way of life.
Yet all hope is not lost. Across Northern Nigeria, there are examples of communities and individuals working to restore balance with nature. Reforestation programs in places like Kaduna and Niger States have begun planting indigenous trees. Farmers are adopting agroforestry techniques, integrating trees into farmland to restore soil health and provide shade. Beekeeping cooperatives are being trained in sustainable honey production without harming wild bee populations.
Youth-led environmental movements and NGOs are also stepping in, raising awareness, lobbying for climate policies, and promoting eco-conscious lifestyles. Traditional rulers, religious leaders, and schools are being encouraged to integrate environmental stewardship into their teachings. These efforts, though scattered, offer a glimmer of hope.
To reverse the loss, however, we need a national conversation. Environmental protection must become more than a side note in policy circles. It must be central to our plans for development, education, and security. Governments at all levels must invest in natural resource management, support local initiatives, and enforce existing laws. Private sector players and development partners should also step up with funding, technology, and expertise.
At the individual level, we must relearn to respect and live in harmony with nature. This means planting trees, protecting water bodies, using energy responsibly, and passing on indigenous knowledge about the environment. It means saying no to illegal logging, refusing to waste resources, and standing up for the land we inherited.
The disappearing gifts of nature may not make headlines every day, but they affect everything from what we eat, to where we live, and how we live. The trees, the rivers, the bees, and the lakes are not just parts of our environment; they are parts of our identity, our economy, and our future.
If we do nothing, we risk not only losing them but losing ourselves.
But if we act now, with urgency and unity, we can reclaim what is left, revive what is dying, and ensure that the next generation will also grow up knowing the taste of wild honey, the coolness of river water, and the shade of the old mango tree.
