The Resources of the Niger Delta: Forests
- Dozens of fruits, leaves and spices that are used both for adding taste and substance to soups and stews, and as vegetables. The best known are the Bush Mangoes, (Irvingia spp.), and afang leaves. The charcoal from Rhizophora propagules is used to make a popular cooking salt.
- Medicinal roots, leaves, barks, fruits and nuts, upon which many people, especially women and children, depend.
- Rattans, canes and ropes.
- Honey
- Wine tapped from Raffia Palms.
Ecological Functions
Thirdly, the forests of the Niger Delta provide ecological benefits, especially in terms of the hydrological cycles, erosion control and off and on-shore fish breeding. But they also have a place in the global and regional ecosystem, particularly in terms of rainfall patterns and climatic stability (although the full extent is not yet fully understood).
Biodiversity Finally, as explained in chapter two, the high diversity of the forests of the Niger Delta should be treated as a valuable resource. Along with the other main Nigerian area of tropical rain forest, in Cross River State, they probably contain 60-80% of all Nigerian plant and animal species. As tropical rainforests are destroyed elsewhere this resource is becoming an increasingly valuable asset.
12.3 FOREST RESOURCES BY ECOZONE
A full survey of the conditions of the forests of the Niger Delta has yet to be undertaken. The cheapest and quickest way to do this would be either by low cost aerial photography or by remote sensing, both with sample field inspection and analysis, in order to enable the development of an up-to-date Geographical Information System based upon digitised maps.
However our observations so far suggest that, by ecozones, forest conditions are as set out in the following sections.
12.3.1 LOWLAND EQUATORIAL MONSOON ECOZONE
Here the forest condition is mostly lost or degraded, but with some riverine cultured and degraded forest, and potential for reforestation.
There is no natural or depleted lowland tropical rainforest here: the remaining degraded riverine and relic shrine forests (often no more than a few trees) are under pressure, and the few harvestable timber trees left are needed for local consumption. However the deep soils of the area have the potential for the establishment of cultured forests of mixed indigenous timber species (Chlorophora, Entandophragma, Irvingia, Khaya, Parkia and Terminalia species are suitable for planting, as is eminently, the Silk Cotton Tree, Ceiba pentandra), and exotic economic fruit species such as the Mango (Mangifera indica). If they were to be established on the most degraded agricultural soils, perhaps around a surviving forest shrine or beside a riverine forest, and properly managed by the local community, such forests would give higher returns than current arable agricultural practices and could therefore be attractive to Local People. Also,
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