CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Transcription

1 CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA BY Akinyemi, G.O; Adio, A.F; Akinyemi, I.G and Ige P.O Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho Hill, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

2 INTRODUCTION Climate change is a global phenomenon that has impacted negatively on the livelihoods of the entire human race. The climate is said to have changed when the patterns and sequence of occurrence of weather events have shifted significantly from what they used to be over a period of time (FAO, 2008). Human activities including deforestation have led to the increase of green house gases in the atmosphere.

3 Introduction Contd. The climate change issue has brought the forestry sector into the centre stage of all national and international debates. In view of the empirical proves of climate change in Nigeria s ecological niche, this paper shall therefore focus on impacts and mitigation strategies through sustainable forest management.

4 THE CONCEPTS OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is a wise utilization of the forest ecosystem without compromising its future availability. Achieving SFM would therefore involve the administrative, legal, technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the conservation and use of forests. Thus SFM includes the involvement of people and also the availability of appropriate techniques and adequate finance.

5 FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN NIGERIA The on-going forest management practice in the country promote deforestation, degradation, genetic loss of wide range of plant and animal species, e.tc. The forest area of Nigeria is known to have diminished from about 60 million hectares in the 1890s to the current status of about 9.6 million ha. The quest for survival by the rural poor and the desire to generate more revenue by the State Departments of Forestry are obviously more paramount than the need for biodiversity conservation. Hence, illegal logging and inappropriate agricultural practices in different parts of the country have exacerbated the decline in both density and floristic richness of the Nigerian forests.

6 STRATEGIES FOR ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN NIGERIA Agroforestry practice Silvopastoral development Afforestation Reforestation Restoration of degraded land Improved silvicultural techniques

7 CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA Lack of political commitment Poor funding of the forestry subsector High level of poverty especially among the rural populace Inadequate information on the crucial roles of forest on climate change mitigation. Inadequate forestry personnel in the State Departments of Forestry Lack of transparency in the state department of forestry

8 IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA Desertification Drought Wind erosion Sand dune Flood (fig 1)

9 Figure 1: Incidence of Flood in Ibadan, Nigeria

10 IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOREST ECOSYSTEM Biodiversity lost Dwindling agricultural productivity Increase incidence of pests and diseases Loss of soil fertility Loss of land form

11 MITIGATION Managing forests with high carbon uptake potential. Expanding such forests through reforestation and afforestation. Reducing deforestation and reversing the loss of forest cover. Providing an enabling environment for forestry investments and market access to sustainable forest based products and Increasing the use of forest-based products such as bio-energy and durable wood products and substituting these for less ecoefficient materials.

12 AGROFORESTRY AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION Agroforestry refers to land-use systems in which trees or shrubs are grown in association with agricultural crops, pastures or livestock. The practice involves: 1. Shelter-belt 2. Wood lots 3. Home-gardens 4. Line planting 5. Live fencing 6. Agro-silvo pastoralism and 7. Alley farming among others.

13 AGROFORESTRY AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION Contd. Beside environmental amelioration, agroforestry modifies the microclimate within the farm and recycles the mineral nutrients through natural process including organic matter from dead leaves, branches and manure from livestock. The carbon sequestration potential and food production advantage of agroforestry system makes it a better land management option for climate change mitigation.

14 ADAPTATION Forests do have the potential to contribute to national adaptation strategies. Planting forests and sustainable forest management can aid in the protection of soil and land against detrimental impacts of flooding. Forests can be used to rehabilitate degraded land and maintain water quality by trapping sediments, taking up nutrients and immobilizing toxic substances. Adaptation strategies promote greater forestry businesses, more sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation through income generation and employment opportunities.

15 CONCLUSION Climate Change mitigation measures require international cooperation to succeed as the entire globe share a common earth and a common atmosphere. Hence, the developed nations need to assist the developing regions of the world in the area of meteorological information technology, remote sensing and geographic information systems to enhance effective information monitoring and accurate predictions. SFM is the only practicable way by which the climate change menace can be overcomed.

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