Assessing Level of Awareness of Environmental Impacts of Charcoal Production and Consumption in the Southern Senatorial Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria (Published)
Charcoal is a key source of energy in some Nigerian regions, but its production and use contribute to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and risks to health. The aim of this research is to determine the level of awareness of the environmental, health and socio-economic effects of charcoal production and utilization in the Southern Senatorial Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to interview 120 respondents from Obi, Doma and Keana LGA and data were analyzed by descriptive analysis using SPSS and results were presented in the form of tables and charts. Findings indicate high awareness of ecological impacts: 96% of respondents perceived changes in biodiversity and 70% witnessed forest loss. Economic reason was stated by 48.3% as the key driver for use of charcoal in spite of health impacts such as eye irritation (70%). Almost all (94.2%) of the respondents recommended mitigation measures such as the plantation of trees. In conclusion, the study offers significant insights for policy makers and emphasizes the necessity for environmental education initiatives and use of sustainable alternatives for charcoal.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Deforestation, Environmental Awareness, Nasarawa State., charcoal production, health impacts
Impact of Deforestation on Rural Livelihood in Mbieri, Imo State Nigeria (Published)
Globally the rate of deforestation and forest degradation is around 13million hectares, occurring mostly in developing countries. This study aimed at assessing the impact of deforestation on livelihood sources in Mbieri a rural community in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria. Multi-Temporal Satellite Images were analyzed for changes in land use and land cover in the area, while random sampling method was used to administer the questionnaire, and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) method was used to elicit information on drivers of deforestation, income levels and perceived effects of deforestation in the study area. Six land use/cover types were identified namely; farmland, bare soil, built-up surface, water bodies, secondary forest and primary forest. GPS coordinates of the sampled deforested areas were also recorded and used to overlay on the Satellite processed data on land use and land cover. Data were further obtained from the satellite imageries of Landsat 4, thematic mapper (TM) and Landsat 7 and 8 ETM+ covering the year 1986, 2000, and 2016 respectively. Results from satellite image analysis revealed that land use changes have negatively impacted deforestation leading to loss of primary forest and reduction in secondary forest. Built-up areas and farmland increased from 13.92% and 11.47% in 1986 to 32.86% and 21.97% in 2016 respectively. While the primary forest reduced from 35.94% in 1986 to 10.78% in 2016. Population increase and agricultural expansion were identified as the major drivers of deforestation in Mbieri. Impacts of deforestation on the people include loss of valuable species of flora and fauna, decreased earnings from the sale of forest resources and loss of farmland to erosion of exposed surfaces. It is recommended that forest plantations be increased by using vacant and unused lands which will have net positive benefits also, deliberate reforestation should be embarked on to avoid environmental degradation and possible increase in ambient temperature.
Citation: Iwuji M. C, Okpara J. C, Ukaegbu K. O. E, Iwuji K. M, Uyo C. N, Onuegbu S. V, Acholonu, C.A (2022) Impact of Deforestation on Rural Livelihood in Mbieri, Imo State Nigeria, International Journal of Geography and Regional Planning Research, Vol.7, No.2, pp.1-13,
Keywords: Deforestation, Forest, Landuse, Livelihood, Satellite image, Urbanization, population increase