Forest stakeholders awareness of reduced impact logging (RIL) in Nigeria and Cameroon

Abstract

Damage associated with conventional logging practices is inconsistent with sustainable forest management. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) model code of forest harvest, otherwise described as Reduced Impact Logging has therefore been advanced to reduce negative impacts on residual vegetation, soils and other environmental attributes. This study investigated the awareness rating of forest stakeholders on reduced impact logging (RIL) in Nigeria and Cameroon. Structured questionnaire and interview schedules were used to obtain information from 134 and 117 randomly selected stakeholders in Nigeria and Cameroon respectively. In Nigeria, results showed that environmentalists and non-govermental organizations have high level awarenes of RIL; the Federal and State governments, also forestry institutions have medium level awareness; while logging contractors, fellers, local forest users, traditional rulers, youth, and security agents have low awareness of RIL. In Cameroon, only the rural dwellers or resident forest users have low awareness of RIL. The timber harvest crew have medium level awareness while all other identified stakeholders showed high wareness. In the two countries, all the stakeholders showed positive leaning towards accepting RIL for its advantageous social impact technological content, mode of standard enforcement and environmental impacts. Key words: Forest stakeholders, reduced impact logging, environmental education.