IBADAN – Dr. Funmi Aderounmu, a Principal Lecturer at Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, has said political instability, insecurity, deforestation and poor governance were major challenges of forestry in Nigeria.
Aderounmu told the newsmen in Ibadan that deforestation had been on the increase over the years and had remained unchecked.
She said that “desert encroachment in the northern part of the country has been identified as major driver of conflicts and human insecurity.
“Government should address the problem of insecurity and incessant conflicts pervading the land.’’
The lecturer noted that in areas like the South-South and North-Eastern parts of the country where conflicts were experienced, no meaningful forest management activities could take place.
She added that the underestimated valuation of forest products and services were part of the challenges in that sector and urged Nigerians to always place appropriate values on forest products.
“There is also the problem of inadequate staffing and under-employment. Despite the high demand for forest handlers, forestry professionals are not employed in many forestry agencies.
“Rather, their jobs are now taken up by non-professionals and this has created technical challenges for sustainable management of the forests.’’
Aderounmu explained that the lack of substitutes for trees had also affected forestry as environmentalists preached against deforestation without necessarily providing substitutes.
She said “hungry people will always clear the forest and fell trees to plant crops. The lack or high cost of kerosene will also lead to pressure on wood for fuel.
“Wood has no cheap substitute for construction as well as paper production, it therefore become an uphill task to convince the masses, especially the poor people, to conserve trees.’’
