The Economic and Ecological Effects of Deforestation on the Nigerian Environment
L. N. Sambe *
Department of Social and Environmental Forestry, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
C. O. Adeofun
Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
G. Dachung
Department of Forest Products and Production, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The increasing quest for economic development and demographic demand has led to rapid forest decline and degradation of the forests in Nigeria. Forests are lost yearly through the industrial, commercial and other urban-related activities. This is currently impacting on the environment and accelerating degradation and depletion of its forest cover and resources. Deforestation is an ongoing phenomenon in Nigeria and is becoming more pronounced with increasing population and urbanization. The effects of deforestation have led to a decline in forest cover, forest degradation, impoverishment of the soil and general deterioration in environmental conditions. However, the inestimable values of forests in promoting sustainable livelihood, industrial raw materials availability, food security, medicine and health care researches, cannot be over emphasized, hence the need for imbibing strategies for reversing the trend and promoting measures that could enhance sustainable management of Nigerian forests. Thus this review paper provides integrated insight into the strategies viable for reversing the deforestation trend and the effective management of the wide varieties of Nigeria’s natural vegetation
Keywords: Deforestation, environment, sustainable forest management