Sustainability of wood harvesting in tropical rainforest of Nigeria

Year 2018, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 44 - 55, 21.06.2018

Kufre Okon

https://doi.org/10.31195/ejejfs.427416

Cited By: 3

Abstract

Over the years, Nigerian tropical
rainforest has become the main source of timber supply to many countries which
were in critical need of timber to feed their wood-based industries. The
increase in population has led to increase in the demands for forest products,
specifically wood for construction. Improper harvesting practices has
substantially degraded the tropical forest that future timber values may be
reduced. Sustainable wood harvesting focuses on the trees that are remaining
rather than on the trees that are to be fell. Proper wood harvesting and
management method must be adopted to facilitate the regeneration of the forest.
Efficient wood harvesting in Nigeria requires the construction of landing sites
as collection points for the harvested timbers and adequate training must be
provided to the operators of the diverse harvesting equipment. With proper
timber harvesting techniques, the damages caused by logging can be minimized. Functional forest
policies that guide against over-exploitation of timber should be enacted.
Reduced impact logging should be incorporated into sustainable forest
management to reduce devastating damages to the residual trees in the forest.

Keywords

Sustianability, wood harvesting, tropical rainforest, harvesting plan

References

• 1. Edward D. WiafeDepartment of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, Presbyterian University College, Ghana.Research filed: Forest Resources [e-mail]
• 2. Habip ErogluArtvin Çoruh University, Faculty of Forestry, 08000, Artvin, Turkey.Research Filed: Forest operation/Engineering [e-mail]
• 3. Adewole O. OlagokeForest Ecology Research Unit, Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, NigeriaResearch field: Forest [e-mail]