EFFECTS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS ON FORESTLAND CONVERSION IN ISI-UZO L.G.A OF ENUGU STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The   study   was   an   empirical   analysis   of   the   Effects   of   Socio-Economic Characteristics  on forestland  conversion  in Isi-Uzo  Local  Government  Area of Enugu State.  It  described  the  agricultural  activities  of  male  and  female  farmers,  problems encountered by both genders during the course of  agricultural activities which may be socio-economic   dependent.   These   socio-economic   characteristics   were   identified, examined and linked to their marginal effect on forest neighbourhood. Two hypotheses were  formulated  to  unravel  the  complexities  of  these  relationships  and  for  better understanding  of  their effect on the forest environment.  Data were collected from the three development councils of the Local Government Area and a total of 160 respondents from  the  study  area  were  chosen.  Their  responses  were  analysed  using  descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and t-test statistics. The study observed that the agricultural activities in the study area were irrespective of gender. The study further found out that some socio-economic  characteristics of the male gender were  statistically significant in relation   to   forestland   conversion.   None   of   the   female   gender   socio-economic characteristics  was statistically  significant.  The  mean conversion for both genders was insignificant  when  tested  for  equality.  The  study  also,  found  out  that  ownership  of forestland does not influence its management in the study area. Based on these findings, the  study  concluded  that  agricultural  activities  which  led  to  alteration  of  the  forest environment could be more male dependent. Policies which could address the male socio- economic  characteristics  could have far reaching effect in the stepwise and sustainable utilization of the forest resources in the study area. The study therefore  recommended programmes,  guidelines  and  constructs  which  should  aim  at  addressing  the  socio- economic characteristics of both genders which should have an ameliorating effect on the forest neighbourhood.  It specifically recommends that  addressing pronatalists issues of unnecessary  increment  of  family  size  as  a  tool  for  agricultural  activities  without resounding benefits. Also, efficient institutional constructs (land tenure laws) which could define and allot forest ownership pattern should be enacted in the study area. Creation of jobs, diversification of these jobs and sustainable investments could save our forest and the environments for the benefits of the present and posterity.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.0      Background Information

The   usefulness   of   forest   in   economic   development   and    environmental sustainability  is  not  in  doubt.  Forest  environment  and  diversity  of  life,  which  they harbour, represent an irreplaceable asset to the biosphere and mankind. Ecologically, their function is unquestionable as they provide two-thirds of net primary productivity of all terrestrial  ecosystems,  of which  our priceless  tropical forests  account  for about  sixty percent (Umaru, 2005). Also, they serve as natural habitat for a sizeable chunk of world’s plant and animal species, thus providing the basis for biological diversity, which is crucial for the biosphere’s continuity. Forests provide a home for wild animals such as elephants, monkeys, antelopes, and snakes, which are hunted for food, income and revenue when conserved in reserves.

Economically, logging (lumbering) of forest hard wood for hard currencies, fuel wood  gathering,  and security for the poor rural population  when crop fails  or,  as an income supplement during the lean farming periods are essential provisions of the forest. Furthermore,   all   these   incalculable   activities   provide   about   eighty   six   percent employment opportunities  in rural areas of Enugu State (Enugu State Government and DFID,  2003).  This  obviously   is  well  acknowledged   especially   in  Isi-Uzo   Local Government  Area of the State,  which is commonly  known  for its farming  activities. Hence, the inhabitants are often called the “Uzegus” meaning literally farmers.

Agriculturally,  forest  leaves  and  branches  of trees  cover  the  top  soil,  thereby intercepting  heavy down pours of rainfall or high velocity moving wind  which would have eroded the soil, thus rendering it less fertile and less productive. Furthermore, dead and  decaying  portions  of  forest  trees  improve  the  soil  texture  and  structure,  hence, increasing water infiltration capacity of the soil. Nutrient recycling ability of the forest trees is also worthwhile. It increases organic and mineral matter of the soil without any adverse  effect  on  the  ecosystem.  Its  mineralization  capacity,  which  makes  nutrients available,  which  would  have  been  permanently,  lost  is  quite  fascinating  (Okonkwo,

1996). Forest trees bind soil particles together thereby enhancing stability of the structure and porosity for effective microbial activities.

The influential property of the forest in microclimate moderation cannot be over- emphasized.   It  regulates  temperature   and  humidity  thereby  causing   precipitations. Precisely, forest crowns intercept moisture laden winds causing them  to rise up, which

when cooling down, induces rainfall. Furthermore, cloud formation through transpiration of forest trees is an essential function of these elements.

The  earth’s  reflectivity  (albedo)  is enhanced  by forest  cover  Ebo,  Okoye  and Ayichi (2002) maintained that forest trees manage and protect water sheds  which have cooling effects on neigbourhood. Thus, maintenance of hydrological cycle is an essential function  of  the  forest  especially  in  regions  characterized  with  irregular  or  seasonal variation of rainfall (Umaru, 2005).

Again,  the  pharmacopoeia  veritable  of  the  forest  resources  cannot  be  under- estimated  (Miller,  1990).  Tropical  plants  provide  essential  medicine,  and  genes  from forest biodiversity necessary for breeding improved crop varieties and other medications. Also, half of the worlds prescribed medicine has their origin in wildlife species (Salau,

1992).

The atmospheric purification has lime lighted the crucial importance of the forest in controlling  air pollution.  The forest biosphere  is next biggest sink for  atmospheric carbon, hence, the sequestering  of atmospheric  carbon pollutants by  the  forest trees is overwhelming (Oyebo, 2002; Umaru, 2005). Thus, this sequestering ability has been the basis advocated for reducing greenhouse effect, and an ultimate clamp down on global warming.

Furthermore, the aesthetic and cultural significance of the forest environment is worth noting. Their values are intangible but real. This non-use value aspect of  forest environment is unhidden as people sentimentally disprove its destruction even if they are unlikely to visit the environment.

Despite all these appreciable  benefits and unquantifiable  resources of forest  to mankind, the breaching of forest mantle to make way for systematic agriculture, human settlements, among others have drastically reduced the size of forest and its resources at an alarming rate.

According  to  a  study  carried  out  by  the  Food  and  Agriculture  Organization (FAO), the world lost 450 million hectares of its tropical cover between 1960 and 1990. This  is mainly  in  Latin  America  and  Africa  where  about  8.2  million  and  5 million hectares respectively are annually deforested (Burgess, 1993). Deforestation is mainly the tragedy of the developing worlds as more developed countries (MDCs) are gaining access to replaced forests (Butler, 2005). Pathetically, deforest rated regions do not regain their original splendour especially in the harsh humid climates.

In Africa, the annual rate of change in total forest area from 1990 to 2000 was estimated to be 5.3 million hectares per year. NEMA( 2000) reported that the  rate of forest loss in Africa is about half the rate in Southeast Asia.

In  Nigeria,  Federal  Office  of  Statistics  (2005)  revealed  that  12.2%  or  about

11.089,000 hectares of the total landscape is forested. 2.9% or roughly 326,000 hectares is primary forest. The rest is made up of secondary forests (reserves) and plantations.

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