Identification and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status of wood species used for charcoal production in Amukpe Area of Sapele Local Government of Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Exploitation of charcoal producing trees in Amukpe area of Sapele, Delta State Nigeria was assessed with a view to ascertaining the impact of such anthropogenic activity on tree species distribution and diversity in the forest of Amukpe area. Structured questionnaire guide on targeted respondents and field observation were used to collect data. A total of 80 respondents in the area were interviewed. Also, secondary information was obtained from 10 lumberjacks, the regular suppliers of logs to the site. Preferences of trees for charcoal production and their abundance status were determined by the information provided by the respondents. The species’ status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species scale ranged was compared. The results obtained showed forty-one (41) indigenous tree species belonging to thirteen (13) different families (majorly hardwood) as charcoal producing trees. Most of the tree species in Fabaceae family were highly preferred by the respondents as charcoal producing trees, and were placed in the medium and high categories of preference. Thus, majority of the tree species in this family where confirmed rare, occasional and frequent. Twenty-one (21) of the highly preferred charcoal tree species were by consensus considered as being rare. This is in line with the IUCN (2019) red list of threatened species. It was concluded that charcoal producing tree species in Amukpe area are now endangered and rare, and it is recommended that there is need for sustainable use of forest trees in Amukpe area of Sapele.