SURVIVAL ASSESSMENT OF FOREST PLANTATIONS IN ABAK LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA.

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1 SURVIVAL ASSESSMENT OF FOREST PLANTATIONS IN ABAK LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA. ABSTRACT Udofia 1, S. I., Akpan-Ebe 1, I. N., Uluocha 2, O. B. and Ekpoh 1, G. I. 1 Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria 2 Department of Forestry and Wildlife Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. Plantation establishment is an important activity in forestry development with the aim of increasing wood supply and stemming the tide of deforestation. Over the past four decades, Akwa Ibom State Government has been involved in plantation establishment in order to address the challenge of wood shortage and environmental problems. This study is aimed at assessing the survival levels of forest plantations established by the Akwa Ibom State Government in Abak Waterside and Ikot Etok Udo, both in Abak Local Government Area. Enumeration of trees was done using quadrants, and data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Survival levels at Abak Waterside and Ikot Etok Udo were 7.70% and 1.50% respectively. No proper management system was designed for the plantations. Massive encroachment and destruction of the two plantations were observed. There is need for the Forestry Directorate of Akwa Ibom State to ensure survival of plantation trees in order to justify investment in the forestry sub-sector. Keywords: Survival assessment, forest plantations, deforestation, Nigeria. INTRODUCTION A forest is a land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than five metres and a canopy cover of more than 10%, or trees able to reach these thresholds in situ (ITTO, 2011). A forest could be natural (self-regenerated) or artificial (man-made) plantation. According to ITTO (2011), a plantation or planted forest is a stand that has been established by planting or seeding. Forests have vital roles in sustaining natural and human environments. They protect watersheds, provide habitats for wildlife and help to stabilize fragile ecosystems (Udofia, 1992). Hence, forests are life communities with trees as their most characteristic feature, but with values which are more than just a stand of trees covering a given area. Nigeria has the world s highest deforestation rate of primary forests (FAO, 2005). Between 2000 and 2005, the country lost 55.70% of its primary forests with no visible signs of past or present human activities. Logging, subsistence agriculture, and collection of fuelwood are cited as leading causes of forest clearing in Nigeria (FAO, 2005). Consequences of deforestation include climate change and environmental pollution that have remained current issues requiring attention of governments across the globe to tackle (Udofia, 2001). At least 18% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a major cause of climate change worldwide are attributable to deforestation (Cullen and Durschinger, 2011). To combat the emerging environmental problems, many nations across the globe have been involved in afforestation and reforestation on deforested and vacant lands. In Nigeria, afforestation and reforestation have been popularized through the annual tree planting campaign exercise started in Before this time, afforestation had started in Nigeria shortly after the amalgamation in 1914, and initially it was directed against desertification. Trees grown in plantations include fast growing species. A plantation is always a monoculture over a large area and does not include extensive naturally occurring stands of trees (Evans, 1992). Industrial plantations are established to produce a high volume of wood in a short period of time. Plantations are grown by state forestry authorities or paper and wood industries and other private land owners. Plants used for the plantation are often genetically improved for desired traits such as growth and resistance to pests and diseases in general and specific trait, for example, in the case of timber species, volume wood production and stem straightness (Sedjo and Botkin, 1997). The solution to desertification, climate change, environmental pollution, land degradation, erosion, waste management is to strengthen the culture of tree planting among the locals through government encouragement, emphasizing the appreciation of traditional knowledge and know-how in its execution (Udofia, 2001). The annual launching of tree planting campaign has been rotating among the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State. The campaign principally aims at creating awareness among the citizenry on the need to plant trees for the resuscitation of the degraded environment. There is, therefore, the need for quantitative assessment on the level of success of tree planting by Akwa Ibom State Government in Abak Local Government Area. Deforestation has robbed so many countries of potential resources while replacing valuable productive land with virtually less valuable shrubs and grassland. Deforestation is a contributor to global warming and is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect (FAO, 2005). Clearing of virgin forest because of physical development activities, like airport, rail, houses etc., constitutes a problem to forestry. Solving such problems NJAFE VOL. 7 No. 4,

2 necessitates incorporation of tree planting wherever there is space. However, tree planting does not just end in dipping the seedlings into the soil. It needs follow up maintenance. Lack of post-planting maintenance has remained the bane of successful plantation development in Nigeria. According to Udofia (1991), if 50% of trees planted in Nigeria since the inception of annual tree planting campaign in 1981 had been cared for and nurtured to maturity, our environment today would suffer less of the destruction caused by atmospheric disasters. Certainly, plantation establishment or afforestation is one of the key weapons against global warming. As trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Thus, afforestation activities should be taken seriously. Perhaps, this is what informed the Akwa Ibom State Government to begin vigorous plantation establishment in most LGAs several years ago (See Table 1). Udofia (1991) observed with disappointment that millions of tree seedlings raised with scarce resources have always been allowed to waste away through animal browsing, lack of post-planting maintenance and protection by the government and people after each planting. Although forest plantations of various sizes have been established by Akwa Ibom State Government since its creation in 1987 with different tree species to supply various products and services, there is virtually no record of survival assessment which could be used to determine the level of success of such forest plantations in the State. Udofia (1991) stated that the success of any afforestation project is best measured by the proportion of trees that actually grow to maturity to meet desired establishment objective. This study will help to know if the money spent by the Akwa Ibom State Government is well spent. The objective of the study was to ascertain survival level of forest plantation established by the Akwa Ibom State Government in Abak Local Government Area. Table 1: Information about Akwa Ibom State plantation forestry Plantation Plantation name LGA Year Size of Species planted number established Plantation (ha -1 ) Ep Ak Abak Waterside Abak Gmelina arborea Ep Ak Abak Waterside Abak Gmelina arborea Ep Ak Ntak inyang Esit Eket Gmelina arborea Ep Ak Ikot Ete-Etu Ikot Abasi Nauclea diderichii Ep Ak Ikot Ekpene urban Ikot Ekpene Cassia Siema Ep Ak Obot me Ini Gmelina arborea Ep Ak Use Ikot Oku/ Ikot Obong Ibiono Ibom Gmelina Ep Ak Ekeya Okobo Okobo Gmelina Ep Ak Ikot Akpa Nkuk Ukanafun Gmelina Ep Ak Mbiakong Uruan Tectona grandis Ep Ak Ikot Etok udo Abak Nauclea Ep Ak Mkpat Enin Mkpat Enin Nauclea Ep Ak Etinan Etinan Gmelina Ep Ak Mkpat Enin Mkpat Enin Nauclea Ep Ak Ikot Umo Essien Essien Udim Gmelina Ep Ak Obot Udom Ini Gmelina Ep Ak Ikot Obong Ibeno Gmelina Ep Ak Ekeya Okobo Efat Okobo Gmelina Ep Ak Ntak Obio Akpa Oruk Anam Gmelina Ep Ak Mbiakong Uruan Gmelina, Tectona Ep Ak Ekeya Okobo Gmelina Ep Ak Ata Obio Akpa Oruk Anam Gmelina Ep Ak Mbiakong, Ndon Ebom, Uran Pines Ituk Mbang Ep Ak Uyo (Ravine) Uyo Gmelina Ep Ak Ntak Inyang Esit Eket 1991 Gmelina Ep Ak Ikot Etok Udo Abak Tectona Ep Ak Ikot Umo Essien Essien Udim Gmelina Ep Ak Etinan Etinan Gmelina, Cassia Ep-Ak Itak Ikot Udo Ikot Ekpene Terminalia spp Ep Ak Ikot Ntu Itu Gmelina Ep Ak Ekeya Okobo Okobo Gmelina Ep Ak Ituk mbang Uruan 1992 Ep Ak Ikot Etok Udo /Ibiakpan Abak Gmelina Ep Ak Ikot Ese/Ikot ekepen Nsit Atai Nauclea Ep Ak Buffer zone, Ikot Umo Essien Udim Mixed species Essien Ep Ak Itak Ikot Udo Ikot Ekpene Gmelina Ep Ak Ntiat itam Itu Pines Ep Ak Ikot Obio Akwa Mkpat Enin Terminalia NJAFE VOL. 7 No. 4,

3 Ep Ak Ekeya okobo Okobo Gmelina, pine Ep Ak Ikot Etok Udo/Ibiakpan Abak Gmelina, Nauclea Ep Ak Health Centre Abak Gmelina Ep Ak Ikot Ineme, Ikot Ibanga, Essien Udim Gmelina Ikot Uko Ep Ak Kwa River slope Etim ekpo Gmelina Ep Ak Ikot Ekpang Mkpant Gmelina Ep Ak Ikot Adia Oruk Anam Gmelina, cassia Ep Ak Ikot Etok Udo, Abak Abak Gmelina Waterside, Ukpom health Centre Ep Ak Ikot Ineme/Ikot Ebok Essien udim Gmelina Ep Ak Kwa River Slope Etim Ekpo Nauclea diderichi Ep Ak Mbiabo Itu Nauclea, diderichi Ep Ak Ikot ekpna Mkpat enin Gmelina Ep Ak Afaha Offiong, Afaha Abia Nsit Ibom Mixed spp Ep Ak Ikot Etok Udo Abak Mixed spp. Ep Ak Kwa river slope Etim Ekpo Mixed Ep Ak Ikot Ineme Essien Udim Gmelina Ep Ak Obot Ndom Ini Gmelina Ep Ak Ididep Ibiono Mixed Ep Ak Afaha Offiong, Afaha Abia Nsit Ibom Gmelina Ep Ak Ikot Etok Udo Abak Gmelina, Tectona Ep Ak Ekeya Okobo Okobo Gmelina Ep Ak Stubbs creek Esit Eket Lovoa Total 2,282.14ha Source: Akwa lbom State Revised Forestation Management Plan, MATERIALS AND METHODS The Study Area Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria is located within the freshwater swamp forest (Udofia, 2007). The Local Government Area is bounded in the North by Ikono local Government Area, North West by Essien Udim Local Government Area, West by Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun Local Government Areas, South by Oruk Anam Local Government Area and in the East by Uyo Local Government Area. Abak Local Government Area is located within latitude 7 o 45 / and 8 o 00 / North and longitude 4 o 50 / and / East. The topography is undulating in some parts with hills, ridges and lots of villages. The area is characterized with dense growth of vegetation. The area is characterized by two seasons; wet and dry seasons. The wet (rainy) seasons lasts for about seven months (April-October). The wet season is followed by a short spell of dry dusty harmattan winds in December and early January, and then the dry season proper from January March. Rainfall ranges from mn per annum, temperatures are generally high all year round, ranging between 26 o C and 28 o C. Relative humidity is usually high and uniform, giving rise to luxuriant vegetation all year round (Udofia, 2001). Abak Local Government Area has four clans (Abak, Otoro, Midim and Afahaobong) with a population of 139,090 (NPC, 2007), and a total land mass of 190 km 2. Data Collection and Analysis The two (Abak Waterside and Ikot Etok Udo/Ibiakpan) plantations, which were established by Akwa Ibom State Government in Abak Local Government Area from (See Table 1) were enumerated. Abak Waterside plantation is 56 ha and a sample size of 7.5 ha was taken, while 1.7 ha sample size was taken from the ha plantation at Ikot Etok Udo plantation. Enumeration of trees was done using quadrat, and data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Oral interview was conducted on members of the Village Council in the host villages. The Forest Officer for Abak Local Government Area was also interviewed to obtain information about the forest management objectives. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Survival of tree species and families in Abak Waterside and Ikot Etok Udo plantations is presented in Table 2. The species planted were Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, Cassia siamea and Nauclea diderrichii. Survival count shows 7,213 trees in the Abak Waterside plantation i.e. 129 trees per hectare. Gmelina arborea was the dominant species and the least was Nauclea diderrichii. In Ikot Etok Udo, survival of 413 trees was recorded in the plantation, i.e. 17 trees per hectare. The most occurring family was the Meliaceae. The total area, planting espacement, original stock per hectare, and the survival percentage are also shown in Table 2. Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis (Verbanaceae) were the most abundant in the two plantations. The original stocks of trees in the two plantations were 1,667 and 1,111 trees per hectare in Abak Waterside plantation and Ikot Etok Udo NJAFE VOL. 7 No. 4,

4 plantation respectively according to the object of management. The present survival is 129 trees per hectare and 17 trees per hectare in Abak Waterside and Ikot Etok Udo respectively, implying very low plantation survival. The low survival explains a huge failure in both plantations. At Abak Waterside plantation, results show that 7.70% of trees planted actually survived to date while Ikot Etok Udo had only 1.50% survival. This shows a very huge failure in both plantations. At the time of this study, farming activities were observed at Abak Waterside plantation; people were also seen collecting firewood freely, while goats were found to browse unhindered in the plantation. At Ikot Etok Udo, almost all the plantation land had been reduced to empty space. Farmers were seen clearing some portion of the plantation land in readiness for early farming. This observation agrees with Udofia (1992) who stated that bush burning, farming, fuelwood collection and livestock grazing had been the major causes of deforestation in forest plantations in Nigeria. It is sad to see that the huge sums of money spent by the Akwa Ibom State Government in establishing the two plantations have become a total waste due to the failure of proper maintenance. According to Udofia (1991), success in any afforestation such as plantation establishment is best measured by the number of quality trees that are actually nurtured to maturity to meet desired object of establishment, and not the number of trees that were planted or distributed for planting. It is essential that all the agencies responsible for afforestation and reforestation in Akwa Ibom State begin to formulate proper and scientific management systems for all the plantations established with tax payer s money. This becomes necessary because oral interview with the Forestry Officer for Abak Local Government Area revealed that no management system had been adopted for the two forest plantations. Abak Waterside plantation was established as a green belt to stabilize the hillside lying behind the Abak Local Government Area Secretariat, while Ikot Etok Udo was established to reclaim the flood plain and for timber production. After twenty years of establishment, the objectives of establishing the two plantations could not be realized due to poor survival of trees and lack of proper management. Udofia (1991; 1992) noted that if 50% of trees planted in Nigeria since the inception of tree planting campaigns in 1981 had been cared for and properly managed to maturity, our environments would not suffer much destruction arising from avoidable disasters (Udofia, 1991). Munro et al., (1993) observed that forest loss is occurring essentially because trees are being used up faster than they are regenerated. Post planting follow up is important in plantation establishment. At Ikot Etok Udo, failure of the plantation could largely, be due to non-involvement of the host community in the plantation establishment. Oral interview with members of the village council revealed that Akwa Ibom State Government came in and cleared the land for afforestation without due consultation with farmers/community who owned the land. The village Head went further to say that up till the time of this study, the Akwa Ibom State government was yet to pay compensation to owners of the land acquired for the plantation establishment. This revelation or information suggests that there was sabotage against the efforts of government as a result of non-payment of compensation. Abak is an agrarian community and people generally sustain their family economy through farming. Therefore, if the government withdraws farmlands from farmers without adequate compensation to the farmers, conflict was likely to occur, and when this happens, whatever intention governments had would be jeopardized, as manifested in the abysmal failure of the two plantations. Table 2: Survival of trees in Abak Waterside and Ikot Etok Udo Plantations in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Variable Abak Waterside Ikot Etok Udo Total area* 56 ha ha Planting espacement* 2m x 3m 3m x 3m Original stock* 93, 333 trees (1,667 ha -1 ) 26,942 trees (1,111 ha -1 ) Survival 7,224 trees (129 ha -1 ) 413 trees (17 ha -1 ) Species Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, Cassia siamea, Nauclea diderrichii Lovoa tricholoides, Nauclea diderrichii, Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis. Family Verbanaceae, Leguminaceae and Meliaceae, Rubiaceae and Verbanaceae Rubiaceae. Percentage survival 7.7% 1.5% *Derived from Akpan-Ebe (2006) and Akwa lbom State Revised Afforestation Management Plan, (1999). CONCLUSION Forest plantation is a source of supply of wood resources and a veritable agent of environmental conservation. This study has revealed that the two forests plantations established by Akwa Ibom State had very poor tree survival as a result of heavy encroachment by host communities who utilize the plantation for farming and for fuelwood collection. The implication of the poor survival is that the state government has wasted huge sums of money without commensurate returns. The poor survival of Abak waterside plantation which was raised to protect the fragile land is capable of causing serious erosion and worsening landslide along the Abak Waterside hillsides. NJAFE VOL. 7 No. 4,

5 A major cause of poor survival of the two plantations is lack of follow up maintenance and absence of management plan for the forests. RECOMMENDATIONS Efforts should be made by the governments to restock the two plantations with a proper management plan designed and administered by qualified foresters. The local (host) community should be mobilized and enlightened on the role of forest plantation in wood supply and in ecological services. There is an urgent need to discourage the ongoing illegal felling of trees and farming in Abak waterside plantation to prevent further erosion and land slide hazards. Adequate compensation should be paid by the state government on land acquired for plantation projects. There should be sustained forestry extension services particularly among farmers and the local communities. REFERENCES Akpan-Ebe, I. N Sustained Afforestation Programme for Akwa Ibom State: The Imperative Action. Round Table Paper Presentation on World Environmental Day in Akwa Ibom State. 17p. Akwa Ibom State Revised Afforestation Management Plan (1999). Directorate of Forestry, Ministry of Environment, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Cullen, M. A. and Durschinger, L. L Emerging market for land-use carbon credit. Tropical Forest Update, 18(3): Evans, J Plantation Forestry in the Tropics Second Edition, Clarendon Press, Oxford. 401p. FAO Revised Deforestation Figures of The World. Food and Agriculture Organization. November Rome. ITTO Tropical Forest Update. 20(3): 2-5. Munro, M., Okali, D. and Winpenny, J Nigeria Tropical Forestry Action. Report of A Mission to Identify and Appraise a Country Capacity Project. Federal Department of Forestry, Ibadan Nigeria (Unpublished). NPC (National Population Commission) Akwa Ibom State Population Results for Census Sedjo, R. A. and Botkin, D Using forest plantation to spare Natural forests,. Environmental 39 (10): 15 20, 30. Udofia, S. I Status of Homegardens in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. PhD Dissertation, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Udofia, S. I Forestry and Sustainable Environment. Importance of Local Knowledge in Forest Resources Conservation. In: Udo, E.S. (ed.) Forestry and Sustainable Environment. Proceedings of the 1 Workshop of the Forestry Association of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Branch. pp 70-75, Udofia, S. I The Role of Students in the Promotion of Afforestation in Nigeria, with Particular Reference to Katsina State. PG. CERT. Report. Department of Forestry, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. pp Udofia, S. 1. (1991). Beyond Tree Planting. The Greenlight Magazine. EEC/FGN Katsina Afforestation Project. 3(2): 6-7. NJAFE VOL. 7 No. 4,