Assessment of Forest Investment, Financial Flows and Revenue Collection in the Abia State Forest Sector, Nigeria

Abstract

Varieties of resources abound in the forests of Nigeria and especially in Abia state, an economic treasure house of resources. Sustainable management of the forests in Nigeria is crucial for a consistent supply of forest resources. Ten forest reserves were surveyed to determine the extent of the government’s involvement in sustainable forest management in Abia State. The government consider the forest reserves, as a revenue-generating venture, leading to the excessive exploitation of forest resources in the state. The exploitation is without regard for sustainability as the harvest is consistently higher than its growth. The government’s involvement in funding the forestry sector over these years has  been the payment of salaries to staff of the State forestry department and revenue collection, while international donors,  corporate organizations and private sectors have not considerably invested in the Abia State forest sector. The survey  revealed the challenges militating the productivity of the forest sector in Abia State, namely: inadequate capital,  administrative incompetence and bureaucratic bottleneck, political instability, ecological challenge, insufficient skilled  personnel, corruption, lack of forest equipment and inefficient forest laws. Training should be organized for the forest  staff and communities to ensure the sustainable use of forest resources. There is a need for the modernization of forestry
practice in Abia State and all that go with it being accorded a well-deserved priority in the present economic dispensation in Nigeria.