For almost four decades, unabated flaring of associated gas and oil spills have destroyed a large portion of Nigeria's mangroves in the Niger Delta of the country's southeastern coast.

Associated gas comes in conjunction with crude oil but is separated and burnt off or "flared", if gas gathering and reinjection facilities are not available. Multi-national oil corporations operating in the country say they flare the associated gas as there is no market to justify investment in the sector.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (ncf) estimates that nearly 20,000 sq km of mangroves have already been destroyed leading to loss of wildlife habitat and destruction of the biodiversity in the Niger Delta.

Now, several expensive gas projects to process associated gas for export and domestic use are underway that may prevent gas flaring and acid rain in the Niger Delta.