Nigeria is located in western Africa and lies between latitudes 4

2.4.5 Sahel Savanna

This is the last ecological zoological zone with proximity to the fringes of the fast- encroaching Sahara desert. Occupies about 18 130 km2 of the extreme Northeast corner of Nigeria and is the last vegetation zone in the extreme northern part of the country, close to Lake Chad. Here the vegetation is not only sparse but the grasses are very short (figure 5). As a rule this zone is not cultivated without irrigation. It is characterized by either very short grasses of not more than one meter high located in –between sand dunes. The area is dominated by several varieties of the Acacia and Date – palms. The Lake Chad basin, with its seasonally flooded undulating plains, supports a few tall trees. At the same time, the drainage system of rivers and streams into the Lake Chad basin has favored irrigation, without which cultivation would be virtually impossible. The increasing aridity in the area accounts for the progressive drying up of the Lake Chad.

In this vegetation zone such plants as Ngibbi, Acacia raddiana, Leptadenia, and African myrrh are growing.

Figure 5:Sahel savanna

2.4.6 Montane

The Montane zone is situated in high-mountain areas of the country like Jos Plateau, Mandara, Adamawa Mountain and Obudu Plateau. The zone is characterized by low average annual temperature (21.5ºC). The average

annual rainfall is 1450mm. The Montane zone vegetation is covered with grass at the top and base, while forests cover the slopes, favored by moisture-laden wind(figure 6). The zone has a great potential for the cultivation of Maize, Wheat, Carrot, Cabbage and other exotic vegetables but the mountainous nature of the zone prevents commercial farming.

Figure 6:montane