Timber trade and marketing in two deregulated timber markets economy in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

I Ojating ,D.A Oga

doi:10.4314/gjpas.v16i1.62805

Abstract

A study on timber trade and marketing in two deregulated markets in Calabar was carried out using two sets of questionnaires to interview the timber traders in Akim and Ikot Uduak timber markets. Results of the surveys showed that only a limited number of timber species were sold in the two markets. Timber trade was found to be profitable since the annual incomes of the traders were enough to sustain the traders and their families. However there were significant differences among the traders as well as between the two markets in terms of annual incomes. Almost all categories of people were found to engage in timber trade and marketing. These were males, 80% in Akim, 88% in Ikot Uduak; females, 20% in Akim and 12% in Ikot Uduak; single, 4% in Akim and 12% in Ikot Uduak; married, 28% in Akim and 8% in Ikot Uduak; divorced, 68% in Akim and 88% in Ikot Uduak; and Christians, 100% in both markets. There were no Moslems engaged in the trade. It is recommended that government should control timber trade and marketing so as to curtail over exploitation of the very few timber species. This would enhance the sustainable management of the timber species.

Highlights

Baseline studies usually refer to a collection of background information and data on the physical environment and socio-economic setting of a proposed site for development
In accordance with the major objectives of this baseline study, the assessment been carried out had shown that the project site is richly endowed with floras of ethnobotanical values
An investigation and understanding of the ethnobotanical flora of our ecosystem is important in several environmental baseline and impact studies

Summary

Introduction

Baseline studies usually refer to a collection of background information and data on the physical environment and socio-economic setting of a proposed site for development. As a sin-qua-non in environmental management, it is done prior to impact assessment of the given area. It seek to strike a balance between obtaining sufficient information to describe existing features, their inter-relationship and overall environmental status or quality, while obtaining detailed data on the current status and trends of the vegetation to enable specific impacts be predicted. It is an aid to obtaining new data through ethnobotanical interviews, which are relevant for obtaining baseline information on the economic importance of the biota in the proposed site

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion