Assessment of Timber Harvest in Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem of South West Nigeria and Its Implication on Carbon Sequestration

Abstract

Timber harvest in natural forests and its implications on carbon sequestration were investigated in the Southwestern Nigeria. Data on timber harvest from forest estates for a 3-year period were collected from the official record of States' Forestry Department. The data registered the species, volume and number of timbers exploited during the study period. The data were analyzed accordingly for rate of timber harvest and carbon value of the exploited timbers using existing biomass functions. Values were compared for significant differences among states using one way analysis of variance. The results showed that the most exploited logs, in terms of volume and number of trees, have the highest amount of carbon removal. There was a variation in type of timber species being exploited from each state. The total number of harvested trees from Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Osun were estimated at 100,205; 111,789; 753; 15,884 and 18,153 respectively. Total quantity of carbon removed for the 3-year period stood at 2.3 million metric tons, and this translated to 8.4 million metric tons of CO2. The annual carbon and CO2 removal therefore were estimated at 760,120.73 tons and 2.8 million tons/ year respectively. There were significant differences (p＜0.05) in the amount of CO2 removed from the five states. Based on our result, we inferred that there is increasing pressure on economic tree species and it is plausible that they are becoming scarce from the forests in Southwestern Nigeria.. If the present rate of log removal is not controlled, forests could become carbon source rather than carbon sink and the on biological conservation, wood availability and climate change may turn out grave. For the forest to perform its environmental role as carbon sink, urgent conservation measures and logging policies are needed to be put in place.

Floral composition and diversity of the lagos coastal environment, South‐Western, Nigeria

“…Thus, it adds to the existing knowledge and provides useful information towards the conservation of the habitats and their threatened species. Congruent with previous studies, we identified freshwater swamp and mangrove swamp forest in the LCE (Adekunle, 2006; Adeniyi et al, 2016; Adeonipekun et al, 2019; Ajikah et al, 2019; Obiefuna et al, 2013; Okorie, 2012; Olowokudejo & Oyebanji, 2016; Onyekwelu et al, 2008; Oyebanji et al, 2020). However, the total number of species recorded was lower compared to previous ecological survey of some selected coastal ecosystems in Southern Nigeria (Durugbo et al, 2012, 472 species; Olowokudejo & Oyebanji, 2016, 147 species).…”

“…Hence, the presence of these species implies that prompt conservation attention is required. Although widely spread in LCE, these species might be experiencing population reduction globally, influenced by limited distribution range and intense human exploitation (Adekunle et al, 2014). Therefore, the results of this study proposed regular biodiversity studies, monitoring, and conservation assessment of the vegetation of LCE to continuously ascertain the conservation status of these species and others not listed by IUCN Red List.…”

Stem bark methanolic extract of Bauhinia thonningii (Schum) demonstrates gastroprotective properties against in vivo ethanol-induced injury

“…In this case the plant's antiviral, antifungal, and wound-healing abilities have been evaluated. Studies on B. thonningii 's phytochemistry found that the stem bark of the plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, betacyanins, anthraquinones, saponins, and steroids [6][7][8]. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to…”

“…The plant sample was introduced into the culture medium using DMSO at a final concentration of 0.1% for 17-20 h at 37°C followed by 5% CO2. Griess nitrite analysis was performed on the supernatant [7]. NO inhibitory…”

“…thonningii revealed the presence of anthraquinone, alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, anthocyanin, betacyanin and steroid [7,8,22,23].…”