Green Investments Required in the Forest Products Industry in Nigeria

Abstract

The high rate of deforestation has had negative effect on the development of the forest industry in Nigeria.  It also has impact on biodiversity, water availability and downward movement of Sahara in the country. One of the major factors increasing the incidence of deforestation is the high rate of wood utilization for charcoal production and for direct domestic energy generation. These have substantially increased Nigeria’s contribution to climate change phenomenon. To stem this tide and set forestry on a sustainable path, it has become imperative that emphases should be placed on utilization of wood wastes in place of solid wood.  Investments should also be promoted in the areas of wood reuse, establishment of plantations of industrial indigenous and exotic wood species, enrichment planting, agro forestry practices, and improved management of old bamboo clumps and establishment of new bamboo plantations locally.  The tapping of the abundant solar energy in Nigeria for electricity generation and domestic cooking purposes also have great potentials of reducing dependence on fossil fuels utilization in the country.  These investments has great potential of reducing the current rate of deforestation by librating forests to play their traditional roles of environment amelioration, top soil protection, biodiversity conservation, maintenance of ecological balance, etc.

Keywords: briquettes, wood reuse, climate change, biodiversity, agro forestry