COURSE CODE: FWM 201
COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO
FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
NUMBER OF UNIT: 2 UNITS
COURSE DURATION: TWO HOURS PER WEEK
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA
COURSE COODINATOR: DR I. O. O. OSUNSINA
E-mail: osunsinaisrael@yahoo.com
Office Location: E 211, COLERM
OTHER LECTURERS: PROF. S.A. ONADEKO
DR M. F. ADEKUNLE
DR M. O. O. OYATOGUN
DR J.A. SOAGA
COURSE CONTENT
Renewable
natural resources, availability,
distribution and potential. The important forest trees
and wildlife (with emphasis on Nigerian species).
Classification, Morphology, distribution and ecology
of important forest trees, forest and game reserves
in Nigeria. Silviculture; afforestation characteristics of
major timber and their uses. Felling and log
transportation. Importance of forest in the national
economy. Organisation of forest resources, nontimber
resources.
Forest
protection
and
conservation, regulation of harvest and sustained
yield.
COURSE REQUIREMENT
This is a compulsory course for all students in College
of Animal Science and Livestock Management,
College of Plant Science and Crop Production, College
of Agricultural Management and Rural Development
and
College
of
Environmental
Resources
Management. In view of this, students are expected
to participate in all the course activities and have
minimum of 75% attendance to be able to write the
final examination.
FOREST AND WILDLIFE AS
RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES
What is a resource?- A resource is any form of
energy and /or matter necessary to satisfy the
physiological needs of humanity or to sustain
all various activities leading to production.
• Resources may be classified into two broad
groups:
• Products and
• Amenities
• Products- include tangible, consumable or
directly utilizable materials such as minerals,
timber, wild game, water and soil.
• Amenities- involve the transformation of
natural features into consumable forms such
as when a waterfall or solar radiation is used
to generate electricity or when a sand beach is
turned into a recreation centre.
What are Natural Resources?
Natural resources can broadly be defined as
those things in the natural environment that can
be used by man. Natural resources which lend
themselves to exploitation by man are mainly
beneficial. Generally, natural resources indicate
the potential wealth of a country. This potential
wealth, when properly harnessed by the people
of a country, can become a key factor in
economic
reconstructions
and
national
development. Effective utilization of natural
resources is of great aid in industrial
development.
Characteristics of Natural Resources
• They are Natural endowment- i.e. they are not man-made. They
are gifts of God for free use by man. As naturally occurring objects,
they could be viewed as land – not the soil only, but the sum total
of both the edaphic, climatic factors and the vegetation. Natural
resources can be viewed as the combination of the productive
values of the land which include matters both on and below the
surface of the land and which have values for man.
• Location specific – Most natural resources are in-situ. They are
where they exist and not mobile. To explore them, man must go to
where resources are located. e.g. oil and mineral explorations. This
is a very important characteristic in view of transportation cost.
Most of the timbers in Ikeji-Ipetu Forest Reserve in Osun State are
not exploited due to accessibility problems. The terrain is
undulating , hence a sophisticated method of extraction will be
needed in such situation.
Characteristics of Natural Resources
•
•
•
Uneven Distribution- Natural resources are natural endowment and their
distribution is uneven both within and between countries.. Some countries have
monopoly of some.e. g. Bauxite in Jamaica (80% of the production) while the rest
is in South Africa. However, this is not true of forests. Most countries are capable
of growing forest – it is not as uneven as other resources.
Versatility – This means that natural resources can be stored for long period of
time without deterioration. This is particularly true of resources derived from
geological processes.e.g. Coal, oil (petroleum). Versatility of timber will not only
leave the timber resources intact, but could lead to increase in timber value – as
the timber increases in both height and diameter (volume). The bigger the timber
the more the value. However, if timber is left unharvested after an advanced age
of maturity, deterioration may set in due to pathological hazards – heart rot, etc.
Finiteness – This refers to the quantity available at a given time. The quantity of
natural resources available is absolutely fixed. This is what the engineers and
technologists refer to as “Proven-supply”. i.e. the quantity of the resource known
to exist.e.g. resources obtained through geological processes. Their development
requires a time scale and quantity cannot be increased on the short run.
Characteristics of Natural Resources
•
•
•
•
Destructability – Most natural resources are destroyed in the process of use. Resource destruction
could ensue / arise from the process of consumption – coal and firewood for cooking, fuel for
vehicles etc. Most of the problems of desertification and aridization were said to have resulted
from the activities of man on the natural vegetation – shifting cultivation, burning of forest for
games and grazing and browsing of the natural vegetation leading to desertification of the original
vegetation.
Common Property – Ownership of natural resources is not clearly defined since they are gifts of
nature, no man can claim ownership – marble Industry in Oyo State and the attendant rows – deep
sea fishery, forestry are also common properties. Hence, people go into the bush to fetch
firewoods, pick snails etc. Most forest reserves belong to the State and communities, hence cases
of illegal fellers.
Importance of time factor – For most renewable resources, there is always a waiting period for the
production to be increased. For timber, there is a minimum period for maturity. The growth rate of
most biological organisms are beyond man’s influence.
Natural Resources as part of the Environment – They form integral part of the environment. i.e.
the living and non-living surrounding. The users quite often are not aware of the effects of their
actions in forests on the adjoining forest areas.e.g. clearing of the premier plantation for the
building of the cultural Centre in Ibadan and the 1980 flood in the city.
FOREST AND FORESTRY DEFINED
• “F-O-R-E-S-T”. This six-letter word means different things to different
people. To some it is an impediment to development and must be
destroyed. Some believe it to be the abode of the dead, evil spirits and
anything diabolic. Others take its presence as an index of primitivity,
underdevelopment and backwardness. Still others link forests with
poisonous snakes, lethal scorpions and deadly spiders. To others, the mere
mention of forest or the sight it conjures resentment and hate while also
invoking fear, awe and mystery. Only very few ordinary persons-in-the
street know of the positive aspects, the indispensability and the intrinsic
linkages of the forest to human existence world-wide.
• From the above classification of natural resources, it could be seen that
forest is grouped under exhaustible, but renewable natural resources. This
means that forest resources are biologically renewable, they can grow and
regrow after harvesting on the same site.
• Therefore, forest is a renewable natural resource which provides timber
and other products for home and industry; food and cover for wild and
domestic animals, protection of soil and water values and facilities for
recreation.
FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
• The earth’s total land area is about 144.8 million
square km, or about 29% of the surface of the globe.
Forest makes up one of the major landscape features
of the world.
• These natural forests form one of the great natural
resources of the world which through the ages have
contributed much to man’s comfort and enjoyment as
well as to his economic progress. Before large-scale
human disturbances of the world began many
thousands of years ago, forests and woodlands covered
nearly 6 billion hectares. Since then, about 16% of that
area has been converted to cropland, pasture,
settlements or unproductive wastelands.
FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
• As earlier mentioned, forest belongs to renewable natural
resources. All the same, it should be noted that renewability is a
socio-economic concept. What is renewable may be non-renewable
if there is no proper management. Hence, there is the need to
manage the forest scientifically; because it is a scarce resource. To
work effectively, forest resources management must be biologically
as well as economically sound. Management of forest resources
refers to the application of business methods and technical forestry
principles and techniques to the management of forest properties.
This is concerned with efficient planning so that a forest is made to
provide the greatest benefits that are possible to obtain. Like the
management of any enterprise it clearly includes the organization
and conducts of all operations that are needed to fulfill the
purposes for which it was established. Management must ensure
that the forest is maintained so that overcutting and undercutting
do not occur. Management also ensures that correct records of
operations are kept.
MAJOR FOREST PRODUCTS
•
•
•
•
•
Timber is used for house building, furniture manufacturing, bridge construction,
manufacturing of simple tools, general construction, boat building. e.g. wood of
Ceiba pentandra.
Poles – used as electric and telegraphic poles. The long vertical branches of
Terminalia velutina can be used as construction poles.
Plywood – Plywood is preferred for general furniture because of its durability.
Pulpwood – Wood is converted to cellulose for paper making or writing materials.
Fuel and firewood – An estimated 3 billion people in the developing countries
depend mainly on wood for fuel. Firewood accounts for 95% of the of the total
wood consumed in Nigeria. Firewood is converted to charcoal for easy
transportation and general convenience. Firewood and charcoal account for more
than 90% of wood consumption in Africa (Kio, 1882). Indeed, half the world’s
population depends on wood to cook food and to keep warm when the weather is
cold.
NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS (NWFP)
• FRUITS – Fruits of high nutritive values are obtainable from the
forest trees.e.g. Chrysophyllum albidum, Terminalia catappa,
Irvingia gabonensis, Psidium guajava, Artocarpus attilis, Spondias
mombin, Moringa oleifera(seeds of this species is very good for
water purification), Mangifera indica,Treculia Africana, Anacardium
occidentale,Parkia biglobosa – (produces local maggi), Adansonia
digitata, Cola nitida.
• FIBRES – Fibres are converted to ropes, handbags, sponge and
twines. They are also used for making nets and fishing lines, mats,
baskets and hats.
• GUM ARABIC – This could be obtained from Acacia nilotica and it is
used for tanning, dying etc. It is an important base for the
manufacture of office gum, foods and beverages, many
confectioneries and pharmaceuticals.
NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS (NWFP)
•
•
•
RESINS AND OILS – Resins are extracted from pines and are useful in turpentine manufacturing. Oils
are also extracted from some species of Eucalypts e.g. Eucalyptus citriodora.
DRUGS – many forest tree species have medicinal values .e. g. Neem (Azadirachta indica), known as
“Dogonyaro” has been variously referred to as “ The wonder tree”, “A tree for solving global
problems”. It is used for curing malaria fever, high fever and jaundice. Indians have found it useful in
the manufacture of medicated soaps, cosmetics and spermicides (substances that kill sperms for
birth control). Fagara species (Orin ata) – for treating sickle cell anaemia and veneral diseases.
Acacia spp could be used as anti-snake bite. Adansonia digitata – used as palliative (pain killer),
Rauvolfia vomitoria (asofeyeje) – used as anti-convulsant, Lophira alata – for treating jaundice.
Parkia bicolor – pulverished bark used in dressing wounds. Prunus Africana- used for treating
prostrate cancer. Irvingia gabonensis – The fresh bark of this species is considered to be powerful
antibiotic for scabby skin, a cure for diarrhea when mixed with palm oil, and a toothache remedy.
Alstoonia boonei- suppresses fever. Annona senegalensis – root used as remedy for chest colds,
fruits for curing diarrhea, dysentery and vomiting.
GRASSES – are used for grazing. Domesticated animals may be grazed in forests provided that the
numbers are kept to a level which does not inhibit regeneration and that areas planted with young
trees are fenced. Some grasses could be pulped for paper production. UNEP has confirmed that one
of Nigeria’s commonest grasses, the spear grass (Imperata cylindrica) is a viable non-wood fibre
source for pulp and paper production.
NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS (NWFP)
• LATEX – This is rubber from Hevea brasiliensis.
• HONEY – This is a valuable non-wood forest product
(NWFP) which yields a lot of foreign exchange for many
countries of the world. e.g. The value of exports of
honey produced from bees in the forests of Tanzania is
several times greater than the value of the wood in
these forests (SPORE 59, October 1995). Israelis make
over $10 million annually from honey alone (Guardian
March 28, 1999).
• PALM WINE AND PALM OIL- These are valuable forest
products too.
NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS (NWFP)
•
•
WILDLIFE- Forest provides home for animals. Bush meat is a valuable source of
protein. Wildlife is a valuable renewable resource in the Nigerian economy and
accounts for 20% of the total meat protein consumed in Nigeria (Ajayi, 1979). In
some West African areas today, the local people still depend on forest game for up
to 75% of their animal protein. Some of the animals are medicinal as are trees.
YAM STICKS, CHEWING STICKS LEAVES AND BAMBOOS –These are all important
NWFPs. Chewing sticks.e.g.Pako Ijebu (Massularia acuminata), and Neem
(Azadirachta indica) prevent tooth decay. They contain anti-decay substances
known as anticariogenics. Leaves such as wrapping leaves. Leaves of Indigofera
indica can be processed into dye and used to colour fabrics. In many parts of
Africa. e.g. Mali leaves of baobab (Adansonia digitata) are used in daily sauce that
accompanies cereal or tuber porridge. The leaves are pounded in a mortar with
other condiments and stewed in a pot. Bamboo forest is not only a habitat for
many wild animals, the bamboo provides the materials for building houses, for
weaving baskets, and that bamboo when used outside the forest can serve as
fences and boundaries.
FOREST PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES
• In forest production activities; an area could either be afforested or
reforested (regeneration).
• AFFORESTATION – This is the establishment of new forest on lands
that historically have not contained forests. All afforestation of
grassland falls into this categories and planting to stabilize sand
dunes all fall in this categories.
• REFORESTATION – This is the establishment of a new forest /
plantation on land which had carried forest within the last 50 years,
but where the previous forest is replaced by an essentially different
one. A common example is where rainforest is logged, cleared and
then replanted within a single tree species (monoculture).
• FOREST REGENERATION – Forest regeneration is the process by
which a forest is renewed. The method considered suitable in
various part of the tropic for ensuring the regeneration of mainly
desirable species can be grouped into three, viz:
FOREST PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES
• Natural regeneration – This is obtained from seedlings
originating either from natural seeding or from sprouts
and other vegetative means.
• Artificial regeneration – This is obtained by total
replacement of the old stand by planting young trees
or by direct sowing.
• Enrichment planting – This is accomplished by planting
trees in partially open forest where the seedlings
present are of unsatisfactory species or if desirable
species are either insufficient in number or illdistributed over the regeneration area.
What is a forest plantation?
A forest plantation is a forest crop or stand
raised artificially either by sowing of seeds or
planting of young trees (seedlings). Forest
plantations are usually referred to as manmade forests or artificial forests. These forests
are mainly established with exotic species. i.e.
introduced species; and they are felled at the
end of their laid down rotation.
Exotic species
• Exotic species – These are tree species that
are growing in an area in which they do not
naturally occur. i. e. they are trees or plants
that are not native (not indigenous) to the
area in which they are growing. Examples of
exotic trees in Nigeria are Tectona grandis L. f.
(Teak), Gmelina arborea Roxb. Eucalyptus spp,
Pinus spp (Pines) such as Pinus caribaea and
Pinus oocarpa.
ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN ARTIFICIAL FOREST
PRODUCTION
• The main activities involved in artificial forest
production are:
• Seed procurement
• Raising of young trees (seedlings) in the nursery
• Planting site preparation. This includes site clearing
and ground or land preparation.
• Site clearing- is the removal of the existing vegetation
in the site – This could be done manually, or by the use
of chemicals or mechanical method. Fire could also be
used.
• Ground / land preparation – is land tilling, ploughing
etc.
ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN ARTIFICIAL FOREST
PRODUCTION
•
•
•
•
•
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Collection of pegs
Lining out or pegging
Preparation of planting holes
Planting of seedlings
Tending of the planted trees
Harvesting at the end of the laid down
rotation.
WILDLIFE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
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•
•
•
Definition of Terms
Conservation is the management of human use of the biosphere so that it may
yield the greatest sustainable benefit to present generations, while maintaining its
potential to meet the needs and aspiration of future generations. Conservation as
rendered involves preservation, maintenance, sustainable utilization, restoration
and enhancement of the natural environment.
Wildlife or Wild animal species refers to all living things, plants, invertebrates and
vertebrates outside the direct control of man (that is, all non-cultivated plants and
non-domesticated animals). It embraces all animals in their natural habitat. They
are undomesticated animals which may be small organisms only visible to humans
if seen through a microscope or as big as the elephant or whale. Wildlife includes
but it is not limited to insects, spiders and birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and
mammals if not domesticated (NCF, 1994).
Biodiversity or Biological diversity refers to the total variability of living organisms
on the planet (UNEP, 1995). It is defined in terms of genes, species and ecosystem
which are the outcome of over 3,000 million years of evolution. As biological
concept, biodiversity is an essential or a necessary tool for human survival.
Definition of Terms (CONTD)
• Wildlife management has been defined as the combination and
application of business methods and ecological knowledge to
manipulate undomesticated fauna and flora (wild animal and plant)
resources in a way that ensures their products and services will be
sustained. The application of ecological principles and knowledge to
the management of wildlife entails certain basic approaches viz:
• Preservation of wild species and allowing nature to follow a
balance, devoid of any human intervention.
• Direct or indirect manipulations of wild fauna population such as
through cropping, culling, habitat alteration and other habitat
management tool so as not to exceed carrying capacity.
• Maintenance of useful and desirable species.
• Sustained-yield management through limiting consumptive
utilization to annual production capacity.
Definition of Terms (CONTD)
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•
•
•
Consumptive utilization is the extraction of resources for the production of
consumer goods and services. Apart from providing food other types of
consumptive uses of wildlife include products such as skins and hides, materials
for hand crafts, or ceremonial uses , oils and medicines, live animal trades, sport,
hunting, stock resources for domestication or improvement of domesticated
breeds, farming activities and mineral resources exploitation. All activities directed
towards production of goods and services which often lead to the degradation of
the environment.
Non-consumptive utilization is defined as the provision of natural amenities and
services for recreational use such as game viewing, nature trail, swimming, boating
and other water related recreational activities in lake and waterfall. It includes
spiritual and religious values, values due to the willingness of local and
international user-public (tourist) to pay to see living and non-living resources in
the natural setting.
Sustainable use is the rate of harvest within the capacity of species and their
habitats to maintain themselves. Sustainable use can be non-consumptive or
consumptive in nature.
Commercial use is defined as the management of native wildlife for profit. The
terms utilization and commercial use are interchangeable.
Status Categories of Species
• Extinct (Ex); species has not been seen in the wild
or in captivity during the past 50 years.
• Extinct In the Wild (BW): As above, but the
species is still held in zoological gardens on other
live collection.
• Ecological Extinction is defined as the reduction
of a species to such low abundance that though it
is still present in the community, it no longer
interacts significantly with other species.
Status Categories of Species
• Extirpation : species is not extinct, but no longer
occurring in a wild state or no longer exhibiting
patterns of use.
• Critically Endangered (CR): The species is very
threatened and at risk of becoming extinct.
• Endangered (EN): Any native species in immense
danger of extirpation or extinction. Species is
unlikely to survive if the factor thus is posing
threat persists.
• Vulnerable (VU): Likely to become endangered in
the future if factor that is posing threat persists.
Status Categories of Species
• Near Threatened (NT): Species is approaching
the threshold of vulnerability.
• Data Deficient (DD): Strongly suspected or
thought to belong to one of the above
categories but data is insufficient to
substantiate.
• Rare (R): Species has small global population
that is not threatened but is at risk.
Status Categories of Species
• Low Risk-Conservation Dependent (LR/CD):
Species is in no immediate danger, but survival
will depend on implementation of effective
conservation measures in its range.
• Low Risk-Not threatened (LR/NT): Species is
in no immediate danger, but needs to be
consistently monitored.
• (Adapted from IUCN threatened species
categories 1996)
CATEGORIES OF PROTECTED AREA
• CATEGORY 1 STRICT NATURE RESERVES / WILDERNESS
AREAS
• Protected areas managed mainly for science or wilderness
protection. These two types of
• protected area are treated as sub-categories:
•
• Category 1a Strict Nature Reserves
• Areas of land and / or sea possessing some outstanding or
representative ecosystems,
• geological or physiological features and / or species,
available primarily for scientific research and / or
environmental monitoring.
CATEGORIES OF PROTECTED AREA (contd)
• Category 1b Wilderness areas
• These are protected areas managed mainly for
wilderness protection. They should include a
large area of unmodified or slightly modified
land, and / or sea, retaining their natural
character and influence, without permanent or
significant habitation and should be protected
and managed so as to preserve their natural
condition.
CATEGORIES OF PROTECTED AREA (contd)
• CATEGORY II NATIONAL PARKS
• Protected areas managed mainly for ecosystem protection
and recreation. These are natural areas of land and / or sea,
designated to:
• a) protect the ecological integrity of one or more
ecosystems for present and future
•
generations;
• b) exclude exploitation or occupation likely to degrade the
area; and
• c) provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, education,
recreational and visitor uses,
•
all of which must be environmentally and culturally
compatible.
CATEGORIES OF PROTECTED AREA (contd)
• CATEGORY III NATURAL MONUMENTS
• Protected areas managed mainly for conservation of specific
natural features. These are
• areas containing one, or more, specific natural or natural /
cultural features which are of
• outstanding or unique value because of their inherent rarity,
representative or aesthetic qualities,or cultural significance.
• CATEGORY IV HABITAT / SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREAS
• Areas of land and / or sea where active management
interventions are undertaken so as to
• ensure the maintenance of habitats and / or to meet the
requirements of specific species.
CATEGORIES OF PROTECTED AREA (contd)
• CATEGORY V PROTECTED LANDSCAPES / SEASCAPES
• Protected areas managed mainly for landscape / seascape
conservation and recreation. They consist of areas of land,
sometimes with coast and sea as appropriate, where the interaction
of people and nature over time has produced a landscape of
distinct character with significant aesthetic, ecological and / or
cultural value, and often with high biological diversity. Safeguarding
the integrity of this traditional interaction is vital to the protection,
maintenance and evolution of such an area.
• CATEGORY VI MANAGED RESOURCE PROTECTED AREAS
• Protected areas managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural
ecosystems. They are
• areas containing predominantly unmodified natural systems,
managed to ensure long term protection and maintenance of
biological diversity, while providing at the same time a sustainable
flow of natural products and services to meet community needs.
FUNCTIONS AND BENEFITS OF A PROTECTED
AREA SYSTEM
A system of protected areas is the core of any programme that seeks to maintain the
diversity of ecosystems, species and wild genetic resources; and to protect the world’s
great natural areas for their intrinsic, inspirational and recreational values.
A protected area system provides safeguards for:
• Natural and modified ecosystems that are essential to maintain life-support
services, conserve wild species and areas of particularly high species diversity,
protect intrinsic and inspirational values, and support scientific research;
• Culturally important landscapes (including places that demonstrate harmonious
relationships between people and nature), biotic movements and other heritage
sites in built-up areas.
• Sustainable use of wild resources in modified ecosystem’s
• Traditional, sustainable uses of ecosystems in sacred palces or traditional sites of
harvesting by ingenious peoples.
• Recreational and educational uses of natural, modified and cultivated ecosystems.
VALUES OF PROTECTED LANDSCAPES
– Conserving nature and biological diversity
– Buffering more strictly protected areas
– Conserving human history in structures and land-use
practices
– Maintaining traditional ways of life.
– Offering recreation and inspiration
– Providing education and understanding
– Demonstrating durable systems of use in human with
nature
PROBLEMS OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA
The problems facing wildlife and wildlife
management in Nigeria are as a result of inter
related factors. These factors are social, cultural
or ecological in nature. A few of these are as
follows:
- The greatest and probably the most serious
problem of wildlife management in Nigeria is
the high rate of illegal hunting in degenerated
resources coupled with the misuse of fire in
open range land by hunters and farmers.
PROBLEMS OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA
- As a result of land hunger in most of the moist
rain forest areas and the rangelands. Illegal
settlements inside game reserve, and the parks
had robbed the nation of her wildlife resources
- In both the rain forest and the savannah zones of
Nigeria, the pressure due to logging operations,
charcoal and fuel wood production had led to the
destruction of our natural vegetation.
- Nomadic herdsman had over the years
constituted menace the herds graze within and
outside the parks causing havoc.
PROBLEMS OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA
- Inadequacy of trained and skilled manpower to
execute wildlife programmes at both Federal and state
levels.
- Inadequate funding of wildlife conservation projects
coupled with poor co-coordination is another big
constraints. The absence of a fully pledged and wellfunded Federal Department of Wildlife to handle
wildlife programme
- Lack of effective legislation to regulate exploitation and
sales of wildlife and wildlife products in Nigeria.
- The level of poverty of the masses of the people which
had over the years slumped into low income, had
aggravated the rate of their dependence on forest and
forest products including the wildlife resources
SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS OF
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA
The numerous constraints facing wildlife
management in Nigeria call for a national
strategy that address the various courses
involved. It is very essential that some
fundamental institutional reforms are
established to sharpen the focus of effort in
wildlife management and conservation in the
developing countries. Some suggested solutions
Include:
- Education: perhaps the first step towards effective
wildlife management and conservation is a carefully
organized public education programme that is targeted
on both decisions makers and the public.
SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS OF
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA
- Effective legislation: Legislation as a conservation tools is a
means. But experience has shown that its by no means and
end. It is therefore suggested that effective legislation that
will involve state and Federal staff in cooperation with the
local masses in and around reserves/parks should be
carefully formulated.
- Funding: It is suggested that adequate funding should be
available to train personnels, purchase wildlife equipments,
such as patrol vehicles, communication gadgets etc.
monitoring of our conservation areas should be adequately
and timely funded while parks should be elevated from
their current rate of neglect to enviable tourist , delight like
their counterparts in East Africa.
- Research: there is still need for more research efforts
towards the provision of necessary data for the formulation
of up-to-date management plan for our parks, reserves and
sanctuaries.
SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS OF
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA
- Currently, most of our zoos and museums are
in a state of neglect, the development of the
zoos should receive government attention.
- In an attempt to carry everyday along in
crusade of wildlife management, local
participation by wilderness and nongovernmental organization should be evolved
and well funded
BENEFITS OF WILDLIFE
- Bush meat which is the flesh of wild animals
has being contributing immensely to the
eradication of protein deficiency in West
Africa and in Nigeria.
- Environmental education: Zoological garden
game reserves and national parts provide
opportunity for people to learn about animals
that live around them.
- Wildlife is our national heritage, we meet it on
earth and are abound to live it for the future
generation (conservation of genetic resources)
BENEFITS OF WILDLIFE
- Environmental protection: By conserving wildlife the
environment is equally conserve, the plant soil and
water around them are conserve, this helps to check
environment problems like erosion or flood.
- Promotion of tourism: Wildlife is the main source of
attraction of tourists to East and South Africa country
Like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South
Africa have large number of various species of game
animals which attracts large number of tourist to these
country. Nigeria has 7 national park and over 40games
reserves.
- Use of wildlife in traditional medicine, skins of some
wildlife animals and snails are used to prepare
Talisman, feaces, bones, hairs, teeth, blood and bones
of some wild animals are use to cure different ailment.
BENEFITS OF WILDLIFE
- Medicinal research: primate and other species of
animals from African are use for medical research both
locally and overseas
- Wildlife byproduct: This include skins, tusks, feathers,
horns, bone of wild animals are used to make shoes,
bags, belts, hats etc which are highly priced
- Revenue generation: Government derives revenue
from wildlife through hunting and entrance fees to
game reserves, national park and zoological gardens’.
- Employment opportunity: Wildlife create jobs for
people thus reducing the problem of unemployment in
the country. Job include
– Wildlife officer
– Wildlife guards
– Game guard
SOME IMPORTANT WILDLIFE SPECIES
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African Elephant
Loxodonta africana (savanna)
Loxodonta cyclotis (forest)
Gestation period 22 months
Number of young/Birth: one
Average life span 60 years, weight 4070-6100km
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African Buffalo
Sycerus caffer (savannah)
Sycerus nanus (forest)
Gestation period 11 months
1 young per birth.
Weight 318-818kg
SOME IMPORTANT WILDLIFE SPECIES
Hippopotamus
• Hippopotamus amphibious
• Gestation period 230days
• One young/birth
• Average Weight 3,050kg
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• Pigmy hippopotamus
• Choeropsis liberiensis
• Gestation period 200 days
• One young/birth
• Average/weight 272kg
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• Black Rhinceros
• Diceros bicornis
• Gestation period 450 days
• One young/birth
• Average weight 1180kg
SOME IMPORTANT WILDLIFE SPECIES
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Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
Gestation period 3½ month
Number of young/birth 1 – 2
Average weight 45 – 55kg
Stripped Hyena
Hyena hyena
Number of young/birth 2-4
Average weight 36 – 54kg
Lion
Panthera leo
Gestation period 3 months
Number of young/birth 2 – 6 young’s
Average weight 136 – 204kg
SOME IMPORTANT WILDLIFE SPECIES
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Leopard
Panthera pardus
Gestation period 3 months
Number of young/birth 2 – 3
Average weight 68 – 77kg
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
Gestation period 95 days
Number of young/birth 2 – 4
Average weight 45 – 64kg
Bush pig
SOME IMPORTANT WILDLIFE SPECIES
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Potamochoerus porcus
Life span 12 – 15 years
Gestation period 150days
Litters 2 – 8
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Wart hog
Phacocherus aethiopicus
Life span 15 years
Gestation period 171 – 195
Litter size 2 – 4
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Forest Hog
Hylochoerus meinertzhageni
Life span 15 years
Gestation period 120
Litter size 2 – 6
SOME IMPORTANT WILDLIFE SPECIES
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Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla
Life span 33 years
Gestation 251 days
Liters size 1
Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
Life span 40 years
Gestation period 216days
Litter size 1
Anubis Baboon
Papio anubis
Life span 20 years
Gestation period 200days
Litter size 1- 2
Green Monkeys
Cercopithecus aethiops
Life span 16 - 20 years
Gestation period 200 days
Litter size 1- 2