Thursday 19 June 2014

The hidden wealth in the forest BY NSISONG AFANGIDEH

A forest is the overgrowth of vegetation comprising of predominantly trees, herbs, and shrubs with little or no grasses. There must be a large portion of land which has not been disvirgin either by building or incessant cutting down of the trees. It predominated by big trees and wild lives.

The function of the forest to the environment and man is enormous. The forest houses numerous products such as timber and non-timber products. The timber products includes the timber obtain from trees and it can be used for several purposes such as construction, furniture, insulators (electric poles) and so many other things.

The non-timber forest products consists of dyes, resins, ropes, rubber, gums, nuts, vegetables, berries, fruits, seeds, honey, medicines, spices books etc. Most at times some of these non-timbers products require heavy industrial processes before it can become a finished product for human consumption.

Forestry (the study of the forest) has enlightened and also teaches people on how to manipulate these resources into useable products. For instance, before now sawdust was considered as a waist but now it can be used as carpet for growing chicken. However, is surprising to know that sawdust can be used in marking ceiling board, building blocks and also substances for cultivating mushroom.

The usefulness of forest and its environmental sustainability is mostly extracted by the western part of Nigeria. In states like Benin and Jos. Most of their rural land areas are forested areas with about 70% of their rural populace depending on this forest to survive.

The chief executive director of the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria Prof. S. O. Obadijo expresses his view thus, “the resources in the forest is 200 times more than the oil that we are fighting for in the south”. He further said with anger and ambition “I am personally disappointed with the struggle for oil when there are other means of feeding the population. Agriculture is rich, forestry is the richest and the earlier we embrace forestry, the faster we will get out of hunger.” He concluded by saying “I am challenging the people of the south to copy the western and stop fighting for oil money”.
Prof. Obadijo is not wrong in his comment. There is so much in stock in the forest. Just that so many people think forestry business is not lucrative. Currently most of the timber used in roofing our houses are imported from Cameroon, the timbers used in making furniture are mostly imported or found in thick forest.

However, there is a tree that can be used as diesel. Jatropha curcas, also known as Biodiesel plant. The seed of Jatropha curcas have the capacity of producing a high quality diesel which can be used for powering a standard diesel engine. It also serves as rain material for bee keeping and also used as decolourising agents for decolourising palm oil into vegetable oil.

Forest products are also used as medicine for various types of infections. The leaves, roots, and backs of several trees are highly medicinal and are always prescribed by pharmacist for use.

Forest can also help in the retention and protection of the Ozone layer which has been tempered with by heat and smoke from refineries, companies, industries, household smokes, car fume etc. which causes global warming. Trees help in the regulation of the atmospheric temperature and humidity. It also serves as oxygen bank for human and consumes the carbon(iv)oxide release by man to the atmosphere.
Forest also houses animals which we use as delicacies. These animals can also serve as recreational materials for man at the same time a source of income to others.

Most trees are used for food both by man and our domestic animals. And foods from these trees are very rich for human consumption because they are rich with photosynthesis.

Our citizens should try to do aware with the notion that forestry is not lucrative because in a tree, the end product for product is a raw material for another product. Forestry is very useful to man and animals in all ramifications.

Prof. Obadijo said “crude oil will definitely finish and it is not renewable, while forest products are renewable”. So measures should be taken in preserving this natural products given to us by God.

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