Assessment of Forest Provisioning Ecosystem Services in Gangumi Forest Reserve, Gashaka Local Government Area, Taraba State
Aishatu Ladidi Iliyasu, D F Jatau, H N Wageti, I
Abstract
This study identified and evaluated forest provisioning ecosystem services obtained from the Gangumi Forest Reserve, Gashaka Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. It aimed to fill knowledge gaps regarding the valuation of forest resources, which is vital for sustainable forest management and informed policy decisions. Data were collected from 346 respondents in Gangumi, Garbabi, and Gayam council wards using a structured questionnaire. The socio-economic profile revealed that most respondents were male (61.1%), aged 31–40 years (35.5%), married (81.8%), and had no formal education (72.2%). All respondents were aware of forest resources, and 75.3% sold them for income, highlighting their economic significance. However, no organized forest-based management activities were reported, and respondents observed a decline in resource availability over time. The findings indicate that forest resources are central to the livelihoods of surrounding communities, yet the absence of sustainable management practices threatens their long-term availability. The study recommends community-based forest management, capacity-building initiatives, and environmental education to ensure sustainability and improve local welfare.
Keywords
Forest
Provisioning Services
Ecosystem
Gangumi Reserve
Taraba State
References
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Wildlife and Environment, 14(1), 119–127.
Oyekale, A. S., & Ajesi, D. O. (2011). Households’ exploitation of non-wood forest products
(NWFPs) in Okiti-pupa Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of
Horticulture and Forestry, 3(7), 222–225.
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disturbance hypothesis: A response to Fox. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 28(10),
571–572.
Taye, F. A. (2017). Valuation of non-market ecosystem services of forests: Preferences for
recreation, effect of childhood experience, and the role of environmental attitudes
(Doctoral thesis). Bangor University, United Kingdom.
Trappes-Lomax, T. R. (1955). The Gangumi and Wurkam River Forest Reserves, Gashaka,
Northern Nigeria (Unpublished report).
Wang, L., Wang, E., Mao, X., Benjamin, W., & Liu, Y. (2023). Sustainable poverty
alleviation through forests: Pathways and strategies. Science of The Total
Environment, Article 167336.
accessed by communities around Girei Forest Reserve of Adamawa State. Journal of
Agricultural Economics, Environment and Social Science, 9(1), 214–231.
Adedotun, A., Saka, M. G., & Dongs, Y. D. (2024). Assessment and economic valuation of
carbon stock of a Guinea Savanna ecosystem in North Central Nigeria. Journal of
Agricultural Economics, Environment and Social Sciences, 10(1), 102–116.
Adekugbe, O. A., Oyerinde, O. V., Oluwajuwon, T. V., Abisoye, T. R., & Atanda, T. A.
(2020). Socio-economic characteristics and level of awareness and perception on
reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation programme (REDD+)
by rural communities in Akure Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences
and Environmental Management, 24(11), 1909–1915.
Adeyemi, O. T., & Olatunji, O. L. (2017). Valuation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs)
in Nigeria: A review. Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology, 3(4), 51–
Agarwal, S., & Saxena, A. K. (2017). The puzzle of forest productivity: Are forest
development corporations solving it right? New Delhi, India: Centre for Science and
Environment.
Amulya, K. H. (2015). Overutilization of forest resources: Its impact on the environment.
International Referred Research Journal, 3(26), 50–51.
Asfaw, Z., & Zergaw, Y. (2022). Woody species diversity and biomass carbon sequestration
in private residential green infrastructure of Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia.
International Journal of Forestry Research, 2022(1), Article 4017094.
Buba, Y. A., Ayuba, K. H., Jibrin, S., & Lawan, S. A. (2017). Assessment of the effect of
deforestation in Shendam district, Plateau State, Nigeria. Pacific Journal of Science
and Technology, 18(2), 380–404.
Campbell, M. J., Edwards, W., Magrach, A., Laurance, S. G., Alamgir, M., Porolak, G., &
Laurance, W. F. (2017). Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in
tropical rainforest fragments. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 6071.
Catalina, S. (2010). Determining the value of forests: An economic measure. SFM Network
Research Note Series, 61, 1–6.
Chao, S. (2012). Forest peoples: Numbers across the world (Vol. 10). Moreton-in-Marsh,
UK: Forest Peoples Programme.
Emeodilichi, H. M. (2018). Assessment of charcoal production processes and the
environmental impact in Kaduna, Nigeria. Resources and Environment, 8(5), 223–
Elujulo, O., Adetula, O. I., Akinbowale, S. A., & Adelola, T. R. (2023). Dependence on
forest resources and community perception of existing management strategies of
Akure-Ofosu, Oluwa, and Akure Forest Reserves in Southwest Nigeria. Journal of
Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 27(1), 17–23.
FAO. (2015). Rainforest analysis at Mongabay.com. Food and Agriculture Organization.
FAO. (2018). State of the world’s forests 2018. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations.
FAO.
(2005).
State
of
the
world’s
forests
Rome.
Retrieved
from
https://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5574e/y5574e00.htm
FRIN. (2023). Forest resources and management in Nigeria. FRIN Bulletin, 15(2), 1–15.
Foley, J. A., Asner, G. P., Costa, M. H., Coe, M. T., DeFries, R., Gibbs, H. K., & Snyder, P.
(2007). Amazonia revealed: Forest degradation and loss of ecosystem goods and
services in the Amazon Basin. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 5(1), 25–
Fonta, W., Ichoku, E. H., & Ogujiuba, K. K. (2014). Forest extraction income, poverty and
inequality: Empirical evidence from a community forest area in Southeastern Nigeria.
CEEPA Discussion Paper (pp. 1–48). Centre for Environmental Economics and
Policy in Africa, University of Pretoria.
Gbiri, A., & Adeoye, O. (2019). Analysis of pattern and extent of deforestation in Akure
Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Geography, 12(1–2),
1–11.
Iveren, B. C., & Osho, J. S. A. (2018). Mapping tree aboveground biomass and carbon in
Omo forest reserve Nigeria using Landsat 8 OLI data. Journal of Forest Science, 8(4),
1–10.
Keenan, R. J., Reams, G. A., Achard, F., de Freitas, J. V., Grainger, A., & Lindquist, E.
(2015). Dynamics of global forest area: Results from the FAO Global Forest
Resources Assessment 2015. Forest Ecology and Management, 352, 9–20.
Lapenis, A., Shvidenko, A., Shepaschenko, D., Nilsson, S., & Aiyyer, A. (2005). Acclimation
of Russian forests to recent changes in climate. Global Change Biology, 11(12),
2090–2102.
Liu, S., Dong, Y., Liu, H., Wang, F., & Yu, L. (2023). Review of valuation of forest
ecosystem services and realization approaches in China. Land, 12, Article 1102.
https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051102
Oludotun, B. (2016). Forest and its services to Nigeria and Nigerians. Retrieved March 13,
2011, from http://olawasomidotun.blogspot.com/2011/05/forest-and-its’s/resources
Osabiya, O. S., Adeduntan, S. A., & Akinbi, O. J. (2022). A survey of tree species diversity
in Akure Forest Reserve and Okomu National Park. Journal of Research in Forestry,
Wildlife and Environment, 14(1), 119–127.
Oyekale, A. S., & Ajesi, D. O. (2011). Households’ exploitation of non-wood forest products
(NWFPs) in Okiti-pupa Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of
Horticulture and Forestry, 3(7), 222–225.
Saarikoski, H., Jax, K., Harrison, P. A., Primmer, E., Barton, D. N., Mononen, L., & Furman,
E. (2020). Exploring operational ecosystem service definitions: The case of boreal
forests. Ecosystem Services, 14, 144–157.
Sheil, D., & Burslem, D. F. (2013). Defining and defending Connell’s intermediate
disturbance hypothesis: A response to Fox. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 28(10),
571–572.
Taye, F. A. (2017). Valuation of non-market ecosystem services of forests: Preferences for
recreation, effect of childhood experience, and the role of environmental attitudes
(Doctoral thesis). Bangor University, United Kingdom.
Trappes-Lomax, T. R. (1955). The Gangumi and Wurkam River Forest Reserves, Gashaka,
Northern Nigeria (Unpublished report).
Wang, L., Wang, E., Mao, X., Benjamin, W., & Liu, Y. (2023). Sustainable poverty
alleviation through forests: Pathways and strategies. Science of The Total
Environment, Article 167336.
