1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The burning of natural gas coupled with crude oil when it is pumped up from the earth is known as gas flaring. Flaring is used to dispose of related gas in petroleum-producing locations where infrastructure to utilize natural gas has been underinvested (JINN, 2010). Gaseous waste materials and occasionally even non-waste gases are directed to an elevated vertical chimney called a gas flare and burned off at its tip, as is the case with chemical industries, oil refineries, oil wells, rigs, and landfills. Garbage gases are exposed to this process either because they are waste or because storing and transporting them is problematic. When unexpectedly high pressure develops within the processing equipment, non-waste gases are burned off to protect it. Flaring of gas on crude oil rigs and crude oil wells  enhances greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere (Ayoola 2011).

Plant diversity conservation has gotten far less attention than animal diversity conservation, partly because plants lack the popular appeal of many animal groupings (Ayoola 2011). As a result, plant conservation receives far less funding than animal conservation (Ayoola 2011). Plants, on the other hand, are far more vital to us. Although animals can supply meat, leather, fur, and other products, none of these are required for human existence and well-being, but many plant products are. Plants provide food for humans and cattle, as well as a wide range of other goods and services, such as lumber and textiles, as well as clean water and erosion prevention. Even though most commercial plant products come from a small number of plant species, a life based solely on these species would be unhealthy and monotonous: many city dwellers employ a variety of different plant species for various purposes, and rural people use even more. Wild plant foods aid in nutrition and food security, while a variety of other species have important roles in traditional medicine. Plants also serve as the foundation for all terrestrial ecosystems, providing the three-dimensional structure in which animals live and move, as well as the food that they eat. This research looks at the current state of global terrestrial plant variety, the greatest threats to its survival (Gas flaring), and the most important conservation activities. It focuses on the tropics, where the majority of plant species are found yet little is known about them.

Nigeria has a lot of natural gas reserves. Natural gas is connected with crude oil to a substantial extent. Nigeria's gas reserves are projected to be above 100 trillion cubic feet (tcf), making it one of the top 15 countries with proven gas reserves, according to Kadana (2015). He further noted that, despite the fact that petroleum specialists identify Nigeria as a natural gas province with some oil, no systematic effort has been made to explore natural gas. Nigerian oil companies operate more than 60 oil fields. A flow station with a gas flare site is located at each oil field. Depending on the size of the flow station, a gas flare site may contain several stacks. Some stacks are vertical, while others are horizontal, but they all emit gas into the environment. According to Moffat & Linden (2010), Nigeria flares more gas than any other country in the world as a by-product of oil production, the majority of it from the Niger Delta; roughly 88 percent of the associated gas is flared. They also reported that in 1994, total CO2 emissions from gas flaring in the Niger Delta were estimated to be 35 million tons per year. Given the low combustion efficiency of Nigerian flares (estimated at 80%), a considerable part of the gas is released primarily as methane. Around 12 million tons of methane are released into the atmosphere each year in Nigeria's Rivers (including Baylesa) and Delta States. They arrived to the conclusion that the Nigerian gas flares are significant because methane has a substantially higher global warming potential than CO2 (64 vs. 1). In a keynote lecture, Anderson (2011) claimed that the disposal of associated gas (AG) has been a big concern for the Nigerian oil and gas industry, given that Nigeria has become the world's largest gas flaring country. According to him, every barrel of oil in Nigeria produces about 1000 standard cubic feet (scf) of gas. As a result, with oil output of around 2.0 million barrels per day (b/d), roughly 2.0 billion scf of AG is produced per day, with the majority of it flared because to a lack of commercial outlets. Many researchers have looked into the direct effects of air pollution on plants. Plants such as okro (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.)), and maize (Zea mays (L.) were adversely affected by Agip Oil Company flares, according to Odu, Adedipe, and Spiff (2014), who investigated the environmental effects of Agip Oil Company flares on soils and crop production. They also believe that similar findings apply to gas flares in general. Finally, Fowler & Freer-Smith (2011) revealed that while crop damage caused by high levels of air pollutants in industrial regions has been well documented, they now have evidence that even lower levels of pollutants can affect yields without generating visible plant lesions. Ukegbu and Okeke (2010) found that the Ashland Oil (Nigeria) Company's impact on the yield and productivity of okro, maize, and cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) was about a 100% loss in yield in all crops cultivated about 200 meters away, a 45 percent loss in yield for those about 600 meters away, and a 10% loss in yield for crops about 1000 meters away. They also blamed high temperature and radiation intensity features for the lack of yield of plants grown in fields about 200 meters away from the flare. Dosumu and Amadi (2011) observed that when one proceeds away from the flare station, the productivity of maize and soya bean (Glycine max (L.) Mey) declined from 100% to 10% or less. Other studies have looked into how air pollution affect plant propensity. According to Chappelka and FreerSmith (2010), while air pollution can cause visible damage to foliage and a disruption of physiological processes such as photosynthesis and carbon allocation, resulting in losses in growth and productivity, the potential for air pollutants to indirectly affect plant growth and vitality by predisposing them to injury from other abiotic and biotic stresses is of equal or greater importance. They claim that contaminants in the air, such as SO2, O3, and acidic mists, act as predisposing factors, making plants more vulnerable to low temperatures and low soil moisture conditions. In its long-range transport of air pollutants and acid deposition assessment study, the Research and Monitoring Co-coordinating Committee (RMCC) of Canada (1990) noted that nine hardwood tree species in Ontario differed in their susceptibility to air pollutants. This is due to a number of reports and complaints about the negative effects of gas flares on nearby vegetation (including crops). Such data can be used to develop policies that preserve farmers' crops, reducing tensions and hostility between oil companies and the communities that own their stakes. Therefore the study centers on effect of gas flaring on plant diversity in Njaba local government area of Imo state

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Individuals, governments, non-governmental groups, world institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank, and most notably scholars have attempted to solve the remaining environmental degradation connected with gas flaring in particular Imo state. Scholars such as Akpomuvie and Orhioghene (2011) have attempted to address the persistent concerns related with the causes of gas flaring and its negative influence on plant variety in their research works. Some international organisations, such as the World Bank (2013, 2008) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have both reported data about the causes and effects of oil and gas on a specific ecosystem, which includes plants in Imo state. It is undeniable that gas flaring has had a severe influence on Plant diversity in the oil-producing communities of Imo state. Again, the flaring, which has a significant impact on their farmlands and plants, requires immediate attention. In a different light, this research examines the recurring debate over gas flaring, based on the use of primary and secondary sources, including some statistical data and scientific papers. Therefore the study centers on effect of gas flaring on plant diversity in Njaba local government area of Imo state

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to examine effect of gas flaring on plant diversity in Njaba local government area of Imo state

1) To examine the origin of gas flaring in Nigeria

2) To examine the environmental implication of gas flaring in Nigeria

3) To examine the effect of gas flaring on plant diversity in Njaba local government

4) To examine the threats to plants diversity in Imo state

5) To recommend ways of solving the problems of gas flaring in Njaba local government.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1) What is the origin of gas flaring in Nigeria?

2) What is the environmental implication of gas flaring in Nigeria?

3) what is the effect of gas flaring on plant diversity in Njaba local government?

4) What are the threats to plants diversity in Imo state?

5) What are the ways of solving the problems of gas flaring in Njaba local government?

1.5 HYPOTHESIS

H0: Gas flaring has no significant effect on plant diversity in Njaba local government

H1: Gas flaring has a significant effect on plant diversity in Njaba local government

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

This study would enable the researcher to pass their experience on the subject matter to Education research centers, government ministries, schools, students to serve as a medium for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF THE STUDY   

The study would cover Effects of gas flaring on plant diversity in Njaba local government Area of Imo state

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The researcher was faced with the following constraints in carrying out this study:

Time: The time within the researcher is too short to carry on the detail study on this topic.

Resources: Another constraint of the researcher is financial resources to carry on the detail study of this topic. Data: Another limitation to this study will be lack of data to make valid study on the research problem.

1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

Gas flaring: Gas flaring is the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction. The practice has persisted from the beginning of oil production over 160 years ago and takes place due to a range of issues, from market and economic constraints, to a lack of appropriate regulation and political will.

Plant diversity: Plant diversity refers to the existence of wide variety of plant species in their natural environments. There are around 300,000-500,000 species of vascular plants that exist on earth

Effect: a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause