An Original Multi-Taxa Biodiversity Monitoring Protocol for Nigerian Protected Areas: Development, Validation, and Policy Application

This dissertation develops and validates an original multi-taxa biodiversity monitoring protocol for Nigerian protected areas, providing the first nationally standardised, resource-calibrated, and scientifically validated biological monitoring system applicable to all protected area types and all six geopolitical zones. Nigeria's network of national parks, game reserves, and strict nature reserves lacks a consistent, cost-effective, and scientifically defensible method for tracking biodiversity status and trends, making adaptive management and reporting under the Convention on Biological Diversity functionally impossible at the national level. The dissertation employs a six-phase development process: a systematic review of international multi-taxa monitoring protocols; expert elicitation with 45 Nigerian ecologists to identify locally applicable indicator taxa and methods; pilot implementation of standardised protocols at 10 protected areas representing all major ecosystem types across all six zones over two years; statistical evaluation of detection probability, power, and cost-effectiveness of all candidate indicators; validation of the composite monitoring index against independent historical data where available; and co-development of the final protocol with protected area managers through participatory workshops. The dissertation proposes the Nigerian Protected Area Biodiversity Index (NIPABI) as an original monitoring framework integrating birds, herpetofauna, butterflies, and macroinvertebrate indicators with habitat quality metrics. NIPABI demonstrates 76 percent predictive validity against independently assessed protected area condition scores. A digital implementation guide and training curriculum are delivered as open-access products for immediate adoption by the National Park Service. Keywords: biodiversity monitoring, protected areas, Nigeria, multi-taxa, NIPABI.