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A study was conducted to survey trees ofethnobotanical importance in theUniversity of Ibadan Campus, Nigeria.Total enumeration of trees with diameter≥10cm at breast height (DBH) was done.DBH and total height of the trees weremeasured while GPS was used to recordthe location of the trees to map theirdistribution. Nearest neighbour analysiswas used to determine the spatialdistribution pattern of the trees. Treeidentification was done by a taxonomistwhile the medicinal values of the plantswere acquired through oral interview ofindigenous respondents and herbalpractitioners within and outside theUniversity community and ethnobotanists.Results showed that there was atotal of 54 species belonging to 25families. Mangifera indica was the most(21.60%) recorded while Terminaliasuperba had the highest mean tree heightof 29.8 m. The largest mean DBH (133.3cm) was observed in Adansonia digitata.The spatial distribution pattern of trees ofethnobotanical importance was clustered(Z=-26.25; p

The role of rural-urban linkages is critically vital for Africa‟s development in this era of rapid socio-economic transformation. A better understanding of cities and how they relate both to the rural and urban development is needed in view of the continuous changes in development. This paper argues that many of Africa‟s development problems such as poverty and food insecurity are best tackled through approaches that recognise the links between the two. Further, the paper proposes the “Kizuna” approach, which emphasises strong symbiotic bonds between rural and urban communities to addressing most problems that face the African society. Moreover, the paper argues that elements of „Kizuna‟ are already evident in the various social networks and kinships that guide the interactions between rural and urban dwellers in Africa. However, these bonds still need formal recognition and deliberate policy interventions aimed at enhancing their potential to foster poverty reduction and sustainable development.Keywords: Rural-urban-continuum, livelihood options, environmental damage, sustainable development, Kizuna

The study examined the trend in prices of Cistanthera papaverifera species of sawn-wood in urban and rural sawn-wood markets in Delta State, Nigeria. Secondary data on dimensions {2”×2”×16 (0.013m3) 2”×3”×16 (0.019m3) and 2”×4”×16 (0.025m3)} of Cistanthera papaverifera species of sawn-wood monthly prices spanning 2004 to 2013 were sourced from sales receipt of sawn-wood sellers. The data were analyzed using Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) Test, Ravallion – IMC and Error Correction Mechanism test. Results revealed that price series in all the markets accepted the null hypothesis of non-stationarity at their levels at 1% and 5% significance level. The integration test revealed that the markets for all the dimensions of C. papaverifera species of sawn-wood considered were integrated in the long run. The Index of Market Concentration (IMC) indicates that the markets exhibit high short run market integration. The Error correction mechanism result indicated that the rates of price transfer were generally fast. This study concludes that sawn-wood marketing in Delta State have a high degree of market efficiency and recommends the provision of incentives to encourage tree planting as well as sustainable timber harvest and a greener environment.Keywords: Sawn-wood, species, marketing, prices, efficiency

Non-timber forest products issues are of global interest due to their importance among rural and urban dwellers for income, healthcare and food security. This study investigates the effects of Tectona grandis canopy cover and NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) fertilizer (15:15:15) application on growth parameters of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) in Ile-Ife, south-western Nigeria. Twelve replicates of ginger plots (6m²each) were laid in a completely randomised block design within and outside Teak plantations. Six replicates were treated with NPK (15:15:15) in a split dose at two and 6 weeks old, while others serve as control. Growth indices such as foliage, tiller numbers, and plant height per plot were obtained for two cropping seasons. Data obtained were analysed using ANOVA and descriptive statistics. Tiller formation in ginger was significantly inhibited by Teak canopy with or without NPK fertilizer (0.000 and 0.033, ρ ≤ 0.05). Ginger heights were not significantly different within Teak plantation with or without NPK (0.647); however, there were significant differences between heights of ginger grown within and outside Teak plantations, (0.000 and 0.011, ρ ≤ 0.05). Foliage production in ginger was higher outside teak plantation, (0.000 and 0.007, ρ ≤ 0.05), while NPK also enhanced foliage production in ginger significantly, (0.000, ρ ≤ 0.05). The study concluded that incorporation of Ginger in plantations such as Teak and other fast growing indigenous species can enhance plantation benefits in terms of biomass yield. Further research in this area is recommended in agroforestry systems.Keywords: Ginger, Teak canopy, tiller formation, leaf production, agroforestry.

Community Forestry (CF), a forest management initiative could help solve conflicting barriers to sustainable forest management. This paper reports the factors that will likely promote CF in southwestern Nigeria. Study sites were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. Lagos State was purposively selected for the study based on its megalopolitan nature in addition to Osun, Ondo and Ogun states, which were randomly selected. Twenty percent (20%) of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the selected states were randomly sampled. Information was collected on demographic bio-data, socio-economic variables and participatory forest management indices from the local inhabitants in the sampled LGAs using structured questionnaire. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics of the ratio scale model. Results revealed that respondents’ distribution was skewed towards the Yoruba ethnic group (92.9%); male gender (80.5%), one to five person household size (56.1%), married (87.5%) and illiterate (26.7%) population. Respondents were also mostly farmers (47.9%) associating more with cooperatives (45.0%) and with modal monthly income of between N10,000:00 and N15,000:00. Awareness about CF among the respondents was very low (23.8%) despite majority’s (70.8%) dependent on forest resources. Out of the fifteen indices of participation in community forest management (ranging from awareness of forestry project to contribution of human resource to maintenance of project) tested using the ratio scale model, awareness about forest project was the most important index of participation with mean People Participating Index (PPI) of 85. However, based on all indices of participation, Ondo state ranked highest with a PPI of 57.1% and Lagos ranked lowest (43.6%) in community participation in forest management. The study recommends more efforts at encouraging improvement in the indices of participation in forest management projects in the study area.Keywords: Community Forestry, Participation Indices, Local inhabitants, Forest management, Learning participation

This study identified the Commonly Used Tree Species (CUTS) and the Lesser Used Tree Species (LUTS) used for furniture making with the aim of developing a priority class for them. The prioritization was carried out through the administration of questionnaires on 193 furniture factories selected through stratified random sampling technique in Lagos, Ibadan and Benin. The preference for wood species varied among the three cities and among the three scales of furniture factories. However, Mansonia altissima was most preferred in the three cities with rates of 99.0%, 97.4% and 97.7% in Lagos, Ibadan and Benin respectively. 39 wood species were compiled from the lists of the three cities. 36% of the 39 wood species were listed by Large scale furniture factories and 44% by the Medium scale furniture factories while the Small scale furniture factories listed all the wood species (100%). Of the 39 species listed, three species namely: Gimelina arborea, Tectona grandis and Pinus caribaea were exotic species while the remaining 36 species were indigenous. The top fifteen rated species classified as CUTS had their percentage ranging between 12.07% for Albizia zygia and 98.28% for Mansonia altissima. The remaining 24 species classified as LUTS had their percentage ranging from 9.77% for Entandrophragma cylindricum and Holoptelea grandis to 0.57% for Daniellia ogea, Petersianthus macrocarpus, Symphonia globulifera and Ricinodendrum heudelotii respectively. It is therefore imperative that essential information on LUTS that compare favourably with the CUTS be made public and accessible to furniture factories so as to encourage their preference for furniture making.

This study investigated the marketing system of Palmyra Palm products in North-eastern Nigeria to; identify its marketable products, channels of distribution and roles of market participants, and also assess its marketing facilities in North-eastern Nigeria. Data were generated through market surveys and interviews on 203 respondents selected randomly from Adamawa, Bauchi and Yobe markets. The generated data were analysed using descriptive statistics where appropriate. Marketing system focusing market organization was analyzed qualitatively by observing the marketing channels, roles of market participants and marketing facilities. The results revealed that exchange and ownership of title to products occurred at the local markets (54.0%), farmers' homes (37.7%), and farmers' farms (6.2%), and inter-states' markets (2.1%). The marketing channel of Palmyra palm was highly decentralised and thus the marketing system was expected to be operationally efficient. However, because of poor road network, high transportation cost and poor marketing facilities, the marketing system was adjudged operationally inefficient. Market participants introduced flaws in the marketing system; farm-gate middlemen dominated marketing operations, commissioned buying agents over-depended on wholesalers for capital, and there was collusion in price determination. Marketing facilities namely market places, storage, processing, transportation and packaging were crude and inadequate, while credit facilities were virtually absent. To address these inadequacies, the study recommended provision of improved marketing facilities and communication gadgets, formation of consumer co-operative organizations to check the excesses of the middlemen in the market and more research into the marketing of Non-timber forest resources.

An over view of the current status of secondary wood processing industry in Nigerian sawmill is presented. A purposive random sampling technique was employed based on the information given by the various state forestry services because there is a limited number of secondary wood processing factories. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit information from targeted firms while follow-up field surveys helped to gather information about the state of specific production facilities. The industry`s area of concern: market, wood supply, products, machinery and process are briefly examined. About 10% of the mills surveyed had their conversion efficiency (CE) above average (>60%). Twenty percent of the mills have CEs between 50-59%, while forty percent are between 45-49% and thirty percent below 45%. Over 75% of the mills have down time due to shortage in wood supply as result extraction problem during the raining season. The average capacity utilization in Lagos, Ogun and Ondo state is 77.8% while the other states has an average capacity utilization of 56%. Three tropical hardwoods namely Teak (Tectona grandis), Apa, (Afzelia africana), and Iroko (Milicia excelsa) which are on high demand in the international market are mostly processed for export. Increasing demand for certified products and the need to ensure long-term sustainability of the forest resources place new pressure on product output. Poor log supply information system, non-existent wood resource data bank, poor processing infrastructure as well as poor technical training for labour were identified as some of the factors limiting the desired degree of integration and efficiency. It is recommended that management strategies and policy must be improved for the expected technological and investment changes to occur in the industry.Keywords: secondary wood processing, status, conversion and sustainability.