**5. Conclusion/recommendation**

Oil pollution from oil spills usually from illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation of the petroleum refinery facilities situated less than 2 km to the East of the wetland, and solid waste pollution are the major threats to this unique wetland. The Ijala-Ikeren wetland ecosystem has been affected by industrial activities and pollution, and these have affected the insect species and the amphibians. Based on the findings of this study, it has been established that the wetland ecosystem is highly stressed from contaminants with records of high acidic pH values which has resulted in the absence of aquatic insects and reduced fishes. The study pointed out that over 5 years (between 2009 and 2014) drastic changes in pH values occurred in the wetlands, as it reduced from 6.3 in 2009 to 4.8 in 2014. This could deteriorate more to a very precarious situation in the next 5 years if the pollution source is still left unattended to.

The study has shown that amphibian population in Ijala-Ikeren wetland appeared not to be under threat or extinction in spite of their absence at the mangroves; as thirteen (13) species were encountered with some equally having preference for acidic ponds. The results also showed that degradation of the wetland is on-going and it will be recommended that wetland conservation should be encouraged to forestall further loss of biodiversity. In doing this, adequate channels to set up a national awareness campaign among coastal and marine communities in the Niger Delta in conserving wetlands be identified. This becomes necessary as there are over nine (9) enacted national legislation/Acts for the protection of wetlands but their enforcement has been very weak. So government needs to mobilise in order to save our wetlands.

Government and non-governmental agencies should encourage studies on the inventory of aquatic insect species of water bodies in the host communities around the refinery to determine the health and pollution status of the aquatic ecosystem via funding.
