RAINFOREST DEGRADATION IN OVIA NORTH-EAST

ABSTRACT

This study investigates Rainforest Degradation in Ovia-North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.The overall objective of this study was to examine the causes/drivers of rainforest degradation in the study area, determine the common land uses and how have they influenced rainforest degradation, the trend, rate and magnitude of rainforest degradation, the socio-economic implication of rainforest degradation, the mitigation measures of rainforest degradation in the study area. The data used for the study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were sourced through questionnaire administration and oral interview. Secondary data included the base map and Google Earth image of the study area. The data were analyzed using geographic information Techniques (ArcGIS 10.2 software). The results subsequently revealed that infrastructural development and lumbering/logging activities are the major drivers of rainforest degradation in the study area. Similarly, the study revealed that that various land uses has influenced rainforest degradation, especially the residential landuse, agricultural and logging have resulted into falling of rainforest resources to give way for agricultural and residential land uses which invariably leads to degradation of rainforest resources. The study revealed that in year 2000, rainforest occupies the highest class of land cover in the study area with 70.6% of the total land areas while light vegetation and built up areas accounts for 20.2 and 9.2% of the total land area respectively. As regards the trend and magnitude of changes in the study area, the analysis reveals that in 2010, there was a drastic reduction in rainforest with 61.6% as against the 70.6% in 2000. This decrease is unconnected to urbanization, infrastructural development, and logging and lumbering among other activities in the study area. The study also revealed that rainforest degradation have numerous social and economic implications which includes loss of economic tree, threat to livelihood to indigenous populace among other things. The study revealed that training and equipping of forest guards, public sensitization and enactment of forest policy constitutes the major mitigation measures in addressing rainforest degradation.The study therefore recommends that the government and populace in the study area should looks into afforestation rather than just deforest the vegetation for building construction, proper land use zoning should be adopted so as regulate rainforest degradation. Similarly, there need for periodic mapping of this type in order to ensure sustainable government of rainforest resources and forest guards should be equipped by the government at all levels.