Full scientific report: Nigeria
Generated 13 November 2026, 03:09 from live Atlas data
Executive summary
Atlas holds 638,249 mapped features and 38,022 observations in 29 datasets. The mapped mangrove canopy covers 822,120 ha in 46,453 polygons across 1 formation classes; Mangrove dominates with 100.0% of the area. The median patch is only 0.089 ha, while patches of 10 ha or more hold 97.7% of the area. 0 ha (0.0%) lies within 10 km of the LAPSSET development footprint.
Single mapping epoch (2019). Areas are geodesic hectares recalculated from geometry.
Species & formations
| Formation | Polygons | Area (ha) | Share | Mean patch (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove | 46,453 | 822,120.2 | 100.0% | 17.70 |
Fragmentation & landscape metrics
- Patches
- 46,453
- Mean / median / largest
- 17.70 / 0.089 / 36,185.5 ha
- Effective mesh size
- 8,706.2 ha
- Largest patch index
- 4.4%
- Power-law exponent α
- 1.52
Spatial clustering
Global Moran’s I = 0.224 (z = 11.1, p < 0.001). Hot-spot cells (Gi*, ≥95%): 98; cold-spot cells: 58.
| Top hot-spot cell | Polygons | Area (ha) | Gi* z |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.45, 6.15 | 76 | 1,080 | 3.26 |
| 4.5, 6.25 | 2 | 4,712 | 3.21 |
| 4.45, 6.05 | 293 | 410 | 3.11 |
| 5.6, 5.45 | 152 | 889 | 3.09 |
| 4.45, 6.1 | 49 | 2,037 | 3.07 |
| 4.7, 6.85 | 140 | 1,028 | 3.07 |
Pressure: LAPSSET and villages
Mangrove ha by distance from LAPSSET
Mangrove ha by distance from villages
Data quality
| Dataset | Features | Repaired | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Nigeria | 40,611 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Nigeria | 43,588 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Nigeria | 46,056 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Nigeria | 40,623 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Nigeria | 39,542 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Nigeria | 53,962 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Nigeria | 46,453 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Nigeria | 38,837 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Nigeria | 34,580 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Nigeria | 37,239 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Nigeria | 40,529 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Nigeria | 43,976 | 0 | 100 |
| Large airport | 23 | 0 | 95 |
| Development Corridors | 33 | 0 | 95 |
| Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) | 51 | 0 | 95 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | 126 | 0 | 95 |
| Rivers | 228 | 0 | 95 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | 642 | 0 | 95 |
| Small airport | 1,979 | 0 | 95 |
| Dams | 2,586 | 0 | 95 |
| Districts | 6,099 | 13 | 95 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | 7,438 | 1 | 95 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | 9,759 | 0 | 95 |
| Irrigated Areas | 23,095 | 1 | 95 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | 25,791 | 17 | 95 |
| Carbon projects: Nigeria | 10 | 0 | 90 |
| Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): Nigeria | 2 | 0 | 90 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Nigeria | 7 | 0 | 90 |
| Roads | 54,384 | 0 | 95 |
Recommendations
Datasets & sources
| Dataset | Publisher | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 40,611 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 43,588 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 46,056 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 40,623 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 39,542 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 53,962 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 46,453 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 38,837 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 34,580 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 37,239 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 40,529 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Nigeria | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 43,976 |
| Large airport | WWF Kenya | 23 |
| Development Corridors | WWF Kenya | 33 |
| Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) | WWF Kenya | 51 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | WWF Kenya | 126 |
| Rivers | WWF Kenya | 228 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | WWF Kenya | 642 |
| Small airport | WWF Kenya | 1,979 |
| Dams | WWF Kenya | 2,586 |
| Districts | WWF Kenya | 6,099 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | WWF Kenya | 7,438 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | WWF Kenya | 9,759 |
| Irrigated Areas | WWF Kenya | 23,095 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | WWF Kenya | 25,791 |
| Carbon projects: Nigeria | Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, University of California, Berkeley | 10 |
| Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): Nigeria | UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT | 2 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Nigeria | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | 7 |
| Roads | WWF Kenya | 54,384 |