Causes of secondary forest loss in a lowland rainforest of Nigeria

Abstract

The increasing human population which promotes the conversion of secondary forests into other land use types has resulted in the decrease of forest areas in Nigeria. This study examined the causes of secondary forest loss in Osho Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC) were assessed using Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI/TC images for four timelines over a period of 38 years (1984, 2013, 2017 and 2022). Results showed an increase in area of plantations, bare land and farmland, leading to a decrease in secondary forest cover. Farmland increased from 731 ha to 859 ha at the rate of 3.7 ha yr-1, bare land increased from 314 ha to 523 ha at 5.5 ha yr-1, plantations increased from 1,105 ha to 1,495 ha at 10.3 ha yr-1,while secondary forest drastically reduced from 1,132 ha to 405 ha at 19.1 ha yr-1. At this rate, secondary forest is estimated to be lost in the study area by 2050.. Osho Forest Reserve requires immediate management interventions driven by updated laws and policies, silvicultural treatment, community engagement and ecosystem rehabilitation. In addition, implementation of sustainable forest management would enhance secondary forest recovery.