Depleting forest resources of Nigeria and its impact on climate

Abstract

Nigeria is well endowed with forest resources but the excessive exploitation of these forest resources is a source of concern and threat to the economic, social and environmental importance. The forest, apart from providing a large proportion of the global supply of timber and fuel, also provide a wide range of non – wood products and environmental functions. These products include bush meat, medicine, watershed protection, stabilisation of the hydrological regime and carbon sequestration. Forests regulate global climate and act as a major agents of carbon exchange in atmosphere. The rate of destruction of forest resources has now become a global issue. In Nigeria, natural forests have reduced drastically and its impacts on climate change are increasing. Measures for minimizing deforestation and managing climate change need to be developed urgently. This paper examined the deteriorating forest resources of Nigeria and its impact on climate change.

Key words: Forest Resources, Deforestation, Forest Status, Climate Change