ISSN 2321 3361 © 2021 IJESC

Research Article Volume 11 Issue No.07

Assessment of Loss of Trees in Akpaka Forest Reserve North Local Government Area of , Onyeizugbe, Uzoamaka Rita1, Nnodu, Valerie Chinedu2 Department of Environmental Management Nnamdi Azikiwe University , Nigeria

Abstract: This study investigated loss of trees in Akpaka Forest Reserve (AFR) Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Attempts were made to find out the types of trees that were lost in AFR in the course of converting some part of the forest reserve to a human settlement area. Questionnaire survey and oral interviews were used to determine the type of trees lost. Heads of household who bought and cleared the land were targeted. A total of 298 questionnaires were distributed in the study area using purposive sampling technique. YaroYamines formular (2001) was used to determine the sample size. Results showed that africanplum, raffiapalm, simelines, Neemtree, blackafara, african peach, and moringa were the type of trees that were lost in Akpaka forest reserve. While mango trees, sycamore trees, mountainfig, bushfig, tanyaro, were not lost significantly. The study recommended protection which involves community participation, awareness, population control, use of R.S; Production which involves re-afforestation, recycling, re-use and legal initiatives which also involves enactment, implementation and enforcement of forest policies as ways of conserving forest resource in the study area.

1.0. INTRODUCTION through erosion, flooding, change in local climate condition, siltation of the famous Nkissi river, and loss of various types of About thirty percent of global forest covers have been cleared green vegetations. The aim of this study is to investigate forest while another 20% have been degraded, a substantial amount of loss in Akpaka Forest Reserve with the objective of identifying the remaining fifty percent of forest resource have been the types of trees that were lost in the AFR and to recommend fragmented leaving only about 15% intact [1]. Records have it ways of conserving the remaining part of the forest. that forest estates in Nigeria which is about ten million hectares is declining at a rate of 3.5% annually due to encroachment, 2.0. MATERIALS AND METHODS excision and outright de-reservation[2]. In Anambra state, developments that are not sustainable, urbangrowth, and Questionnaire survey was used for this study. The target ignorance have exposed forest reserves in the state to extreme population were heads of households who bought and cleared pressure and loss of biodiversity. Notably among them is the land before construction work started on the land. There are Akpaka forest reserve in Onitsha North Local Government 43 streets and 1,161 buildings in the study area. The sample Area of Anambra state. The British colonial administration size for the study was 298. Yaro Yamens formula for sample mapped out Akpaka forest as a forest reserve to conserve nature, size was used to arrive at the figure 298. The questionnaires maintain equilibrium in the environment and for posterity. were divided among the 43 streets that make up the built up However in the year 1999/2000, forest loss through area of the forest reserve proportional to the number of deforestation started in AFR and have continued up till recent buildings in each street Table 1. Purposive sample technique times. This resulted to several environmental problems in the was used to determine the 298 buildings sample. area among which are loss of soil quality, degradation of land

Table.1. Table showing the number of questionnaires distributed in each street according to number of buildings in the street. S/No Street Number of Number of houses per street households (question-aire) 1 Osundu Close 37 9+1 2 Hon. Idemobi Crescent 26 6+1 3 Eze Bishop Avenue 34 8+1 4 Bar Iheanyichukwu Uba Drive 11 2+1 5 Clem Close 28 7+1 6 Clement Agbodike street 17 4+1 7 Prince Charles Ifezue Close 29 7+1 8 Sir Sam Ezeofia Drive 16 4+1 9 B. Adilieje Mission Close 36 9+1 10 Ifeanyi EzediugwuCrescent 35 8+1 11 Bonny Anene street 13 3+1 12 Nwachinemelu Vino Close 30 7+1

IJESC, July 2021 28472 http:// ijesc.org/ 13 EzeaniobaOjoto crescent 25 6+1 14 Edochie Okafor street 13 3+1 15 Iseke street 33 8+1 16 EzegoOjoto street 14 3+1 17 Igwilo Chris Avenue 13 3+1 18 Sundycostreet 12 3+1 19 Austin Chuks close 31 7+1 20 Lady Virginia Ayolubacresent 15 3+1 21 Transfiguration church Drive 32 8 22 Dona Odogwu Lane 39 10 23 Sir Gab Anakwe Avenue 18 4 24 Ejelue street 38 9 25 Dr Mike Areh close 10 2 26 Jehova Jireh close 19 4 27 Golden Nwabueze Avenue 24 6 28 Prince Chinedu Akwaka crescent 10 2 29 Obi Onyeka close 27 6 30 IzuchukwuAbadibe Crescent 43 11 31 DancoAkanonuOjoto Crescent 14 3 32 Madonna Crescent 44 11 33 Amaehi Meg Crescent 22 5 34 Okey Okons Avenue 50 12 35 Primus Crescent 47 12 36 Sir Leo Anyika Crescent 48 12 37 Chinedu Chinaekwe Crescent 49 12 38 Ekwerekwu Crescent 12 3 39 Sir Arthur Ewuzie Drive 51 13 40 Chief Omeogo A.C Anachuna street 21 5 41 Pharm AlloysuisNsonwuDrive 45 11 42 V.V.I Okoye Drive 18 4 43 Agha Crescent 12 3 1161 298 Source: Researchers Field Work 2019

3. 0. RESULT AND DICUSSION down of Mountain Fig while 62.75% disagreed, 44.29% agreed to cutting down of Bush Fig while 55.70% disagreed, 85.90% From the questionnaire data, 68.45% agreed to the cutting agreed to cutting down of Sycamore while 85.90% disagreed, down of palm tree, while 31.54% disagreed. 63.42% agreed to 19.12% agreed to cutting down of Jan Yaro tree while 80.87 cutting down of African plum and 36.57% disagreed, 24.49% disagreed, 32.88% agreed to cutting down of Mahogany while agreed to cutting down of Mango trees, 75.50% disagreed. 67.11% disagreed, 15.77% agreed to cutting down of Cashew 89.59% agreed to cutting down of Raphia Palm while 10.40% tree while 84.22% disagreed, 52.34% agreed to cutting down of disagreed, 67.44% agreed to cutting down of Simelines while African Peach while 47.65% disagreed and lastly, 60.06% 32.55% disagreed, 91.27% agreed to cutting down of Neem agreed to cutting down of Moringa tree while 39.93% tree while 8.72% disagreed, 65.77% agreed to cutting down of disagreed. These percentages are illustrated in figure 3.1. Black Afara while 34.22% disagreed, 37.24% agreed to cutting

TREES THAT WERE CUT DOWN TO USE OF THIS LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAK PURPOSE

Yes No

100 80 60 40 20 0

Figure 3.1. Tree loss in Akpaka Forest Reserve

IJESC, July 2021 28473 http:// ijesc.org/ From the data in fig 3.1, it is then deduced form the majority that palm trees, African plum, Raphia Palm, Simelines, Neem tree, Black Afara, African Peach and Moringa were the type of trees that were lost in Akpaka Forest Reserve while Mango trees, Sycamore tree, Mountain Fig, Bush Fig, Jan Yaro, and Mahogany were the type of trees that were not cut down significantly.

4.0 RECOMMENDATION

This study recommended ways that the remaining part of Akpaka forest can be preserved and also ways to restore to an extent the destroyed part of the forest reserve. This recommendations takes 3 forms and can also be used to control forest loss in other parts of Nigeria and beyond. They are PROTECTION, PRODUCTION & LEGAL INITIATIVE.

1) Protection: this involves use of community participation; awareness; population control; use of advanced technology like GIS for monitoring to protect the remaining parts of the forest from further deterioration. When there are genuine efforts to protect a forest and members of the community are part of the process, it will be much easier to achieve the goal. Again a community that is fully aware of the implications of forest forest loss will voluntarily renege from cutting down forest trees and even contribute their own part for a better result in forest conservation. It is also important to control population growth because increased population of onitsha city resulted to increased demand for forest land for settlement purpose. Remote sensing should also be used for monitoring so as to detect anomalies and enable immediate action.

2) Production: this involves intensive re-afforestation programmes, recycling, re-use and use of alternatives for forest products. This will help to conserve forest resources more. Built up areas should also be mandated to plant at least 5 trees for each house and plant flowers too. If this is done it will help make the entire Akpaka a green environment in the nearest future. It will also help to stabilise the local climate within the vicinity.

3) Legal Initiative: This implies enactment, implementation and adequate enforcement of forest policies in the area and other areas too. This study revealed that there are forest laws geared towards protection but they are not being implemented. They exist on paper without enforcement. There is need for agencies in charge to wake up and ensure that these laws are obeyed with defaulters punished accordingly. This will serve as deter to others. This study finally recommends an amendment of some laws that have vestiges of colonial interest in it. Sustainability should be the guide for all forest action.

5.0. REFERENCE

[1].World Resource Institute Annual Report 2017: Bigger Problems Better Solutions. Accesed online at https:// www. wri. org/annualreport

[2]. Aruofa, R.O. (2001): Forestry Outlook Paper, Ministry of National Resource and Tourism. Pg 31.

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