Perception of Locals on Management and Improvement of Forest Resources and Timber Exploitation in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Ebong Mbuotidem Sampson,Joseph N Ogbobula,Iniubong Ansa,Nsidibe Mbuotidem Sampson,Victory Udoh

doi:10.33002/nr2581.6853.02122

Ebong Mbuotidem Sampson, Joseph N Ogbobula + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.02122

Copy DOI

Abstract

A study was carried out in Imo River Estuary, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria to evaluate the perception of the local people on the environmental and socio-economic effects of timber harvesting and management. Five local government areas were purposively selected based on their proximity to the Imo River Estuary. Despite the high effect rates of timber exploitation, most of the locals of the study area have little or no knowledge of the severity of these effects on their environmental and socio-economic well-being; thereby, limiting the required rate and application of necessary mitigation measures as revealed by the Cmax of 0.89 affirming of the relationship of the perception of the locals to the implications of timber exploitation in the study area. Based on the findings, the constraints hindering effective timber utilization and management in the study area are lack of public awareness and poor value system supported, respectively, by 180 and 165 of the respondents out of 300. Hence, the study suggests that the local people of the study area should be educated about sustainable utilization and management of forest resources. Moreover, state government and logging companies should embark on reforestation, afforestation and regeneration programmes in order to replace extracted tree species and regenerate extinct species.

Highlights

Timber exploitation has caused a substantial reduction of average size of the trees which has lessened the grandeur of forests
This technique was used in this work for determining objective (i) which entails the perception of the local people regarding systematic management; and improvement of forest areas to ensure sustainability of timber resources in the study area and the objective (ii) which involves understanding the major constraints of effective timber management
The perceptions of the local people on the implications of timber exploitation in their environment indicate that there is an increase in the rate and effect of timber exploitation in the study area

Summary

Introduction

Timber exploitation has caused a substantial reduction of average size of the trees which has lessened the grandeur of forests. The greatest aesthetic impact in a forest is the appreciation of trees of great stature and age, but, apparently, most of these have been removed. People travel great distances just to observe the few remaining trees and to hold them in awe (Cronin and Amit, 2009). The traditional mode of natural resources consumption and development as well as the current exploitation are severely threatening long-term utilization of timber. The rate at which forests are destroyed in the name of furniture making, pulp and paper production and provision of domestic energy is alarming. According to Keegan (2011) and Laird (2008), in Central and West Africa, the tropical rainforest has been an important source of timber and other valuable non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Whilst different countries around the world promote economic growth, at the same time, most of them have committed themselves to reduce environmental impacts and to reverse global environmental deterioration (MEA, 2013)

Methods

Results

Conclusion