Assessing the impacts of fuel wood harvesting activities on forest degradation in Kwata area, Mutum-Biyu, Gassol local Government area, Taraba State, Nigeria.
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Date
2018
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Kampala International University
Abstract
The study was carried out to examine the impacts of fuel wood harvesting activities on forest degradation in Mutum- Biyu area. Both Quantitative and Qualitative methods of data collection were used. Data was collected through the use of close ended questionnaire, key informants structured Interview Guide and Transect sampling method. Additionally, the study also employed the use of descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviation distribution tables to present the data. The sample size of the study was 133 obtained from the target population of 200 respondents from the study areas. The study found out that males were the most individuals involved in fire wood collection with 74.. The most common tree species used as firewood found in the study area is Terminalia glaucescense recorded 46 with 21.69., Prosopis Africana with 13.6., Anageissusleicarpus had 25 with 11.7., Pterocarpuserinaceus had 23 with 10.8, Khaya senegalensis was also recorded 20 species with 9.4., Tamarundusindica had 19 with 8.9.Balaniteeggyptiaca had the least percentage of 3.8, all species were indentified within five (5) sampled plots. The Shannon- wiener diversity index 2.2098 and 2.1464 from plot 2 and 5 was very high compared to other plots, indicating that the forest is a highly diverse area in terms of tree species. According to the community the responses of the local communities, abundance of tree species commonly used as fire wood in the area was declining. This decline may be related to increasing demand generated by the growing human population and national need for charcoal. The study also revealed that, provision of other sources of fuel, provision of more job opportunities; people enlightenment, law enforcement and reforestation remain the most potential ways of controlling the impacts of fuel wood harvesting activities on forest degradation. As important as the wood energy is and as profitable as business in the environment of these source regions has been experiencing a negative impact such as deforestation, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, `decrease in tree population, wind storm, social conflicts, decline of water source, decrease in food production, soil fertility and leaching. As a result of these findings the study recommended the introduction of fuel efficient cooking device and afforestation programme to approach and minimize the impact of this activity in the environment.
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Keywords
Fuel wood harvesting, Forest degradation, Taraba State, Nigeria.