Keywords
deforestation
forest reserve
vegetation
forest resources
How to Cite
Abstract
Forest is an important resource for maintaining balance environment. Given the population pressure on forest resources in reserved forest, such as shifting cultivation, overgrazing and felling of trees, forest resources have been depleted to a great extent resulting in soil erosion, flooding and other environmental hazards. It is clear that destruction of forest is destruction of soil ecosystem, plants and communities leading to severe environmental consequences. This study was undertaken to determine ecological effect of deforestation on forest resources and environmental implications on vegetation of Mokwa forest reserve. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and reconnaissance survey. Seven communities were selected around the forest reserve namely Bokani 1, Bokani 2, Bokani Sabo, Ezhi, Takuma, Kpaki and Kudu. A total of 392 questionnaires were administered in the seven communities based on the proportion of their population from the projected 2015 population. Data were collected on cutting of trees, reason for deforestation and effect of deforestation on the environment. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study showed that major causes of deforestation are cutting of trees for firewood (47%) and crop cultivation (25%) which resulted into soil erosion. The findings also revealed consequences of deforestation in the area to include loss of soil fertility (36.5%), loss of forest products (35.5%), loss of species diversity (14.5%) and accumulation of carbon dioxide (6.1%) respectively. Hence, policy makers and stakeholders need to adopt policies that will discourage deforestation by inhabitants through afforestation, reforestation, tree husbandry and planting in the areas, as well as sustainable empowerment programme to boost livelihood of the rural populace in order to reduce over dependence on the forest reserve.
References
Achard, F., De Fries, R., Eva, H., Hansen, M., Mayaux, P. and Stibig, H. J. (2007). Pan-tropical monitoring of deforestation, Env. Res. Letters 2:45-67
Adeniji, O. A., Zaccheaus, O. S., Ojo, B. S. and Adedeji, A. S. (2015). Charcoal production and producers' tree species preference in Borgu local government of Niger State, Nigeria. J. Energy Tech. and Pol.5: 1-8.
Akpan, P. L. and Ofiong, M. O. (2007). Effective forest resource management in Nigeria: A panacea for sustainable development, www.ssm.com/abstract=1447875.
Azua, S. (2018). The impact of deforestation on land use system in Zaria. Nigeria Journal of Surveying and Geoinformatics, 3(1): 32-41
Brookfield, H. C. (1992). “Environmental Colonialism, “Tropical Deforestation and Concerns other than Global Warming. Global Environmental Change 2: 93-96
Bruijnzeel, L. A. (2004). “Hydrological Functions of Tropical Forests: Not seeing the soil for the trees? Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 104 (1): 185-228.
Chomitz, K. M., Buys, P., Luca, G. D., Thomas, T. S. and Wertz-Kanounnikoff, S. (2007). At loggerheads? Agricultural expansion, poverty reduction and environment in the tropical forests. World Bank Policy Research Report. World Bank, Washington DC.
FAO (2003) Forestry Outlook Study for Africa – African Forests: A View to 2020, African Development Bank, European Commission and, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Rome, 18 www.ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/Y4526B/y4526b00.pdf.
FAO, (2012). Drivers of deforestation and forest degradation: A synthesis Report for REDD+ policy makers. Kagera Agro-Ecos., 2:1-10.
Habtamu, W. E., Debela, H. F. and Serekebirhan, T. (2017). Impacts of deforestation on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, Southern Ethiopia. Afr. J. Agric. Res. 12(15): 1293-1305.
Houghton, R. A. (2005). Tropical deforestation as a source of greenhouse gas emissions. In: Tropical deforestation and Climate change, eds. Moutinho, P. and Schwartzman, S. Amazon Institute for Environmental Research, Belem Brazil 13-20.
Ibimilua, A. F. (2012). Appraisal of the Causes and Consequences of Human Induced Deforestation in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 14(3): 37-52
Jeminiwa, O. R., Jeminiwa, M. S., Taiwo, D. M., Dauda, M. and Olaoti-Laaro, S. O. (2020). Assessment of forest degradation indices in Mokwa forest reserve, Niger State, Nigeria. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage., 24 (8): 1351-1356.
Jimoh, S. C. (2001). Mangrove Degradation in the Coastal South-East of Nigeria: Causes, Effects and Remedies for the Future, In: Popoola, L., Abu, J.E. and Oni, P.I. (eds), Forestry and National Development, FAN publication, Ibadan, pp.17-38.
Johannesburg Summit (2002). Combating deforestation in Nigeria. Published by United Nations.
Oduntan, O. O., Soaga, J. A. O., Akinyemi, A. F. and Ojo, S. O. (2013). Human activities, pressure and its threat on forest reserves in Yewa division of Ogun State, Nigeria, Journal of Environmental Research and Management 4(5): 260-267.
Putz, F. E., Blate, G. M., Redford, K. H., Fimbel, R. and Robinson, J. (2001). Tropical forest Management and Conservation of Biodiversity: An overview. Conservation Biology 15: 7-20.
Rosenzweig, C. and Parry, M. L. (1994). Potential Impact of Climate Change on World Food Supply. Nature 367: 133-138
Sedano, F., Sila, J. A., Machoco, R., Meque, C. H., Sitoe, A., Ribeiro, N., Anderson, K., Ombe, Z. A., Baule, S. H. and Tucker, C. J. (2016). The impact of charcoal production on forest degradation: A case study in Tete, Mozambique. Env. Res. letters 11(9): 1088-1100.
Sumit, C., Gosh, S. K., Suresh, C. P., Dey, A. N. and Gopal, S. (2012). Deforestation: causes, effects and control strategies. Intech open: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, Global Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management, 51:958-981
Western, D. J. (1999). “Biodiversity as a form of Land Use”. Environment and Development Economics 44(2): 233-236.
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An Introductory Analysis, 2nd edition New York. Harper and Row.