EVALUATING THE PROBLEMS OF DEFORESTATION IN OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE USING EVBONEKA COMMUNITY NEAR NIFOR AS A CASE STUDY

ABSTRACT

The goal of this research is to evaluate the problems of Deforestation in Ovia -North East Local Government Area of Edo state using Evboneka community near Nifor as a case study. To evaluate these problems, four research questions were raised. The study sought to Identify the major causes of Deforestation, the recent problems created by Deforestation in the Environment, to know the attitude of the people in Ovia-North East towards the Land Forest Area and also to know the Effects of Deforestation on the Biodiversity.

The survey research design was adopted for the study and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Two hundred (50%) of the rural dwellers were randomly selected from the sample size of 400 and from the four thousand (4000) people inhabiting the community. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. The research instrument for this Research was the questionnaire consisting of 20 items. The validity of the instrument was done by the supervisor and two experts in Faculty of Education. The reliability of the study was determined using the Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient and the value obtained was 0.63.This showed that the instrument was reliable.

Result from the study showed that a high percentage of the rural dwellers agreed that rural development leads to deforestation as it involves the cutting down of forest trees in order to carry out building and construction purposes. This act of development puts pressure on forest woods as most buildings and construction are done using Timbers. Another findings show that Poverty and Overpopulation is also a problem of Deforestation. High percentage of the respondents and majority of them which are farmers, agreed that Forest wood are cut down and serve as a source of income as a result of the high level of poverty due to the economic situation of the nation and also the rapid increase in population requires more houses to be built, more books to be used, more furniture are needed and these factors tamper with Forest woods and forested areas. It was Recommended that Public awareness on Forest preservation should be carried out in both the local and state level, Activities on Forest areas should be properly guided in order to stop illegal logging activities on Forest areas. Sustainable management should be encouraged such as allowing for soil fertility, controlling soil erosion, forest health and vitality should be safeguarded. Forest areas should be expanded by making out more space for planting of trees. This will make more forest woods to be available for future use. There should be a substitute and that is to say for all purposes where tropical or other timber is used, other woods or materials could be substituted. We can stop using timber and urge others to do the same.