Forest revenue from non-wood and minor forest products and services is mostly realised from the issuance of permits to extract or collect products. This includes permits to collect: fuelwood; fruit; seeds; leaves; poles; resins; latex; and honey. Table 13 shows the various changes for permits to extract or collect various items in a selection of states in Nigeria in 2000.

The frequency with which these charges are reviewed varies from state to state. For example, in Ekiti State, the charges for sand, leaves and fruit collection have been reviewed once within the last five years (see Table 14). However, in some states, such as Oyo and Taraba states, charges on these non-wood and minor forest products have not been reviewed in the last ten years. In Taraba State in particular, the charges on leaf collection, tapping wine, collection of ropes and collection of fruits have remained at N 600 per year, N 2,400 per year, N 5,000 per year and N 150 per year respectively, since 1991. This is an indication of the lesser importance attached to these products by state governments, even though they are available in large quantities in these states.

It is also notable that in some states, such as Edo, Kwara and Osun states, private and corporate bodies who wish to occupy a forest reserve for recreational activities can do so if they pay permit fees ranging from N 300 per year (for private individuals) to N 20,000 per year (for corporate bodies) and do not cause any damage to the forest.

Fines

Fines are payments made to the government for contravening forest regulations and laws. In Ekiti State, the penalty for late renewal of a property hammer (after 31^st March) is an additional charge of 25 percent of the renewal fee. Unauthorised relocation of a sawmill is penalised by a fine equal to twice the transfer fee. Failure to keep records of material inputs and outputs is penalised by a fine of N 2,000 for the first offence, N 5,000 for a second offence and N 10,000 for a third offence.

In Ondo State, non-possession of toll fee receipt at the point of loading in the sawmill for vehicles travelling outside the State shall attract twice the toll fee chargeable on the particular size of vehicle. The sawmiller in whose premises the above is committed shall also pay twice the toll fee. Harvesting trees smaller than the minimum girth limit attracts a fine of N 5,000 per tree. Flinching of commercial trees at stump (when approved) attracts an additional fee of N 1,000 per tree on the permit obtained. A breach of this regulation also attracts a penalty of N 10,000 per tree. (This penalty is also applicable in Ekiti State). Teak or Gmelina stands cut short of lengths of 12 feet attract an additional fee of N 100 per billet. A breach of this regulation also attracts a fine of N 10,000 per truckload and N 25,000 per trailer load.

A breach of log dressing rules, such as improper scribing, improper painting, illegible property hammer making and incorrect measurement of logs, attracts a fine of N 500 per log in Ondo and Ekiti States. Failure to produce a log certificate on demand attracts a penalty of N 500 per log.

In Osun State the following offences are penalised with fines paid to the government:

the fine for transporting unmarked logs on any lorry is N 50,000;

the fine for transporting logs without the necessary documentation is N 25,000;

the fine for transporting logs outside time stipulated on the transport licence is N 25,000 per lorry load; and

the fine for sawing logs at night is N 25,000 per sawmill.

Timber sales by auction

Timber is sold by auction (using competitive oral bidding) to dispose of illegal logs without claimant. Before a log is auctioned, a court approval has to be obtained and the law allows the money spent on the auction to be deduced from receipts before the balance is paid into government treasury.

In setting the reserve price of the timer to be auctioned, the organisers of the auction include the costs (felling and other expenses) that would have been incurred by the illegal logger. The final sale price reflects the true value of logs, because bidders freely indicate the prices that they are willing to offer.

If buyers pay for the true value of the timber, it can be inferred that rational buyer will take precautions against wood waste. Thus, this method of sale should encourage the efficient utilisation of the wood. Also, timber auctions provide market information about timber prices for members of the public and, if the price of timber is attractive, this may encourage private-sector tree planting.