COMPARATIVE STUDY ON WOOD SPECIES UTILIZATION IN BENIN CITY EDO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The comparative study of wood species utilization in three local government areas in Benin City (Oredo, Egor and Ikpobo okha) were evaluated. The study investigate the wood species utilization, the most utilized wood species among the various wood users, examined the uses of the wood species, identified factors mitigating the supply of wood species and identified the sources of the wood species used by various wood users. A preliminary visit was made to different wood users from which five major wood users in Benin City was purposively selected for this study. These comprises; building contractors, wood carvers, furniture makers, bronze casters and charcoal producers. 60% sampling intensity was allotted to wood carvers, bronze casters and charcoal producers while 40% sampling intensity was allotted to furniture makers and building contractors. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage summarized in the tables and charts. Inferential statistics was done with the use of Analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance. The results revealed that (63,30%) of the respondents had experiences in wood utilization while (71.4%) of the respondents mainly use wood species for decorative and structural purposes.  The majority of the respondents preferred Cordia millenii, Terminalia spp. and Lophira alata; 89.7% of the respondents affirmed the use of visual identification and knowledge of the species used as the major factor influencing choice of wood species. The main source of wood species were significantly different (p<0.05) among the respondents. The study concluded that wood utilization across the study area play an important role in the application of knowledge and management in the use of wood by various wood users.