Domestic Energy Crisis and Deforestation Challenges in Nigeria.

Abstract

The energy crises confronting Nigeria is well known, what however remain unclear to many is the relationship between the energy crises and the continuous depletion of Nigeria's forests resources; despite the warning of the United Nations' FAO that Nigeria accounts for the highest deforestation rate (55.7%) in the world's primary forest. This paper attempted an overview of the Nigeria's deforestation menace from the standpoint of the country's domestic energy crisis. It has identified the various causes of deforestation and concluded that none is more pervasive like that of fuelwood harvesting. The paper has therefore pointed out the potentials of exploiting other renewable energy resources of Hydro, Solar, Wind and Biofuels in place of fuelwood; with the view to removing the present pressure on Nigeria's primary forest for fuelwood as the mainstay of domestic cooking energy.

Keywords: Energy, Deforestation, Fuelwood, Renewables, Desertification, Savannah