0139-B1
E. E. BASSEY 1
The Nigerian rain forest is fast disappearing as a result of continuous increase in the demand for forest lands and forest products. In order to retain its benefits to the population and ensure a stable environment, conservation of the remaining part of the ecosystem is necessary. Efforts geared towards forest conservation in the country are faced with many obstacles. Despite these obstacles, several strategies could still be adopted to ensure the conservation of the rainforest ecosystem. The success of this, however, requires the co-operation between foresters, policy makers, and the local people who live side by side with the forest.
Conservation has been defined as the management of human use of the biosphere so that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefits to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations (IUCN 1980). For a renewable natural resource such as the natural forest, conservation is the controlled use of the resource in such a way that its capacity to renew itself is not impaired. Conservation of the natural forest ensures the continuity of the benefits derived from them. These benefits include the provision of raw materials for wood-based industries, protection of watersheds, minimization of erosion, stabilization of soil, amelioration of climate, and provision of habitation for wildlife. These benefits are so important to man that they ensure his continuous survival on the planet earth. Unfortunately, the natural forest is fast disappearing as a result of the rapid population growth and the attendant increase in the demand for land for farming, grazing, industrialization, urbanization, etc. In Nigeria, the decline in the total forested area is now resulting in a wide spread concern for conservation at both national and local levels.
According to IUCN (1980), conservation has three specific objectives, namely:
For these three objectives, the reasons for conservation are classified and discussed thus:
Man, the apex of creation is a trustee of nature, and therefore has a duty to foster the survival of other species. As a rational being, man is not morally justified to bring about massive destruction and possibly, extinction of the other species that share the planet with aim. Thus, conservation of the natural resources is a major responsibility of man. Also, since the forest is passed on to us as an heritage, we should also pass it on to posterity.
Several tangible and intangible benefits are derived from the forest by man. The continuous supply of these benefits justifies the need for the conservation of the forest. Even those species that are not presently being used have their potential usefulness. As the knowledge of man about his environment increases, the usefulness of such species will be discovered.
The great biodiversity of the natural forest is another important reason for conserving our forests. This biodiversity is of great scientific significance especially to breeders who depend on the gene pool from wild varieties for improving the domesticated species. In addition, extractives from some plants are very useful in the pharmaceutical industries for manufacturing drugs. The conservation of our forests will enhance the ability of pharmacologists in developing more useful drugs for the benefit of man.
The forest as part of the biosphere plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance. If the ecosystem is not conserved, the ecological balance will be disturbed and man, being a functional part of the ecosystem, will be adversely affected. For example, the acid rain and the global warming being experienced in the world at present is as a result of inadequate conservation of the forest ecosystem. In addition, conservation affords ecologists the opportunity to study how the ecosystems operate.
Another reason for conserving our forests is their aesthetic value. The forests provide opportunities for recreations and sport hunting thus contributing to the overall well being of the population.
Despite the good reasons for conservation enumerated above, conservation efforts in Nigeria are faced with several obstacles.
These include:
i. CONVERSION OF FOREST LAND TO OTHER USES
The increasing rate of population growth and the various developmental programs aimed at meeting the needs of the teeming population is a major factor responsible for the conversion of forest areas to other land uses.
The attitude of certain administrative bodies in charge of developmental programs, towards forests in Nigeria is one of indifference and neglect. This may be due to lack of understanding of the biological importance of natural forests on the part of their members. Thus it is not uncommon to find large areas of forest estate cleared for road construction, and some industrial projects without any consideration for the environmental consequences.
ii. POVERTY / HUMAN, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS
Many land owners are poor subsistence farmers whose major source of livelihood is farming and this explains their strong cultural attachment to land which Ayoola (1988) highlighted. Consequently, they would do everything possible to thwart any effort aimed at dispossessing them of their land. This dependence on forest lands for energy (fuel wood), food, housing, etc. coupled with the low standard of living of the generality of Nigerians, and the need for rural development has resulted in unplanned and uncontrolled exploitation of the forest resources. As a result, forests are dereserved and deforested illegally sometimes officially for various purposes without any thought over the long term ecological consequence of such acts, provided the short term objectives such as maximization of income from forest exploitation are met (Udo, 1991).
iii IGNORANCE OF THE PUBLIC
Many Nigerians are ignorant of basic conservation practices. They do not know the consequences of deforestation through indiscriminate forest exploitation, shifting cultivation, and unwise use of fires, and why they should plant trees. Kio and Ola - Adams (1989) have for instance, identified shifting cultivation as the most important agent of forest destruction and ecosystem modification in Nigeria. This public ignorance is partly attributable to the poor forestry extension services or the complete lack of this very important aspect of forestry in many parts of the country.
iv. INADEQUATE FUNDING AND NON-PARTICIPATION OF WOOD BASED FIRMS:
Government finances all forestry projects without the participation of wood based companies which are the major users of forest resources.
Consequently, annual planting targets are difficult to meet because of poor funding by government.
v. POLITICAL FACTORS:
According to Dasmann et al, (1979), development is commonly motivated by political and economic factors without considering the ecological consequences of such actions.
For example, dereservation and deforestation are officially perpetrated in the country because policy makers and politicians are interested in short term results to convince the public about what they have achieved during their usually short tenure of office to the detriment of the long-term benefits of conservation practices.
vi. INADEQUATE LEGAL BACKING OF CONSERVATION EFFORTS:
Many forest conservation policies are usually poorly implemented because of inadequate legal backing by government. For example, the issue of non-participation of wood based firms, who are major beneficiaries of forestry development efforts in Nigeria, in forest regeneration has not received sufficient legal backing by government despite the fact that government cannot do it all alone in this respect and the companies are not willing to contribute on their own.
The main strategy is to successfully tackle the human elements responsible for dereservation, deforestation and destruction of forests by getting government policy makers and the general public to appreciate the uses of, and need for the sustenance of forests as an important component of man's habitat. Arvill (1973) has broken down this approach into:
However the following strategies have been identified for Nigeria
I. EDUCATIONAL
The general public, including policy makers and politicians, must be enlightened on the consequences of forest destruction, the need for, and basic principles and practices of forest resources conservation so that they may readily co-operate with government and other relevant agencies by adopting conservation measures. Forest resources conservation education should also be injected into primary and secondary schools Agricultural science syllabus, while public enlightenment should be through all available media of information dissemination, for instance, radio and TV discussions, jingles, newspapers, hand bills, personal contacts and demonstration by officials. The annual tree planting exercise is one of such examples except that it is still too ceremonial in many parts of the country.
II. ECONOMIC
The socio-economic needs of the local population or land lords, who may be deprived of certain immediate benefits or sources of livelihood, for example, source of fruits, seeds and animal protein, should be taken into consideration in all forest conservation measures. For instance, in areas where attempts are made to constitute more forest reserves or even where villagers still dereserve or deforest forests illegally through shifting cultivation, education, resettlement, and or financial assistance are necessary, otherwise they may revolt against the conservation policies, rendering them unsuccessful. The co-operation of wood based firms would go a long way in ensuring the sustenance of the resources and future supplies of the firms major raw material (wood). It is not in the interest of the firm nor that of the environment to only exploit these renewable natural resources as a `mine' and thereafter abandon them to nature.
III PROFESSIONAL
Forest resources must be judiciously managed based on ecological principles. Afforestation, reforestation, forest protection, and controlled exploitation are very important components of sustained yield management of forests, particularly because of the wave of illegal exploitation, dereservation and deforestation in the country. In managing the resources, degraded lands must be protected against further degradation by planting trees and grasses, and filling with earth where necessary. Rare species must also be protected from extinction. All these require adequate staffing and training which are lacking in many states' forestry services. Therefore, government should readdress this issue urgently.
IV POLITICAL
Development planners should always take into consideration the ecological consequences of such developments instead of being primarily socio-politically motivated. This is why education for politicians and policy makers as discussed earlier is necessary.
V LEGAL
Forest resources conservation programs in Nigeria require the support of policy makers and lawmakers nationwide, and should be entrenched in our infrastructural development system with sufficient legal backing.
Forest resources play a vital role as source of raw materials for wood based industries, food for man, and as a buffer against ecological hazards. For these reasons their conservation is inevitable to ensure that even with infrastructural developments, the resulting environment is satisfactory to the people, self sustaining or capable of being sustained, is healthful, challenging and offers opportunities for future change (Dasmann et al, 1979). This requires judicious management and utilization of the resources, which cannot be isolated from ecological factors. Therefore, in view of the ignorance of the general public, policy makers and politicians about conservation objectives and principles, mass education through forestry extension with the participation of wood based firms in conservation programs must be vigorously pursued.
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Arvill, R. (1973). Man and Environment, Pelican Books, Third Edition.
Kio, P.R.O.and B.A. Ola-Adams (1989) Successional patterns in the disturbed/worked
Nigeria Tropical Rainforest. In forest resources development and the sourcing of local raw materials in Nigeria. J. A. Okirie and P.C. Obiaga (eds) PPI-10 Forestry Association of Nigeria.
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Udo, E. S. (1991) Forest Resources Conservation in Nigeria:
Problems and strategies. Paper presented at the 21st Annual Conference of the Forestry Association of Nigeria, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State 7th -12th April, 1992
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