AN ANALYSIS OF FORESTRY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN MAMU FOREST RESERVE, ENUGU STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper is set out to study the analysis of forest management practice in Nigeria (Mamu Forest Reserve Oji River) and to establish the role of forest managers in effective Forest Resource Management. Various methods such as questionnaires and statistical tools such as tables, percentage, charts etc. were used to arrive at a reasonable finding. Such findings led to the recommendation that human resources investment in the reserve should be improved, so that effective management of forestry resources can be achieved through strategic forest management planning. It was also discovered from the finding that since the establishment of Mamu Forest in 1927, it has 11.97ha of trees in 75 years which gives an average loss of approximately 0.2ha per annum. The lost of trees is basically attributed to farming activities and annual bush burning by hunters which is more disastrous in Mamu Forest compare to Akwari Ani Forest. It took cognizance of the management status of the forest estate, agencies involved in forest management, manpower situation, budgetary appropriation and revenue generation. As a result of some problems identified, appropriate recommendations were made in the following directions, provision of detailed Forest Resource plan indicating its economic importance. Administration of Mamu Reserve should be improved and strengthened with professional and forest law to be enacted to deal with offenders as well as revisiting Land Use Act for cultivable land provision to farmers. The reserve should be improved upon and expanded to attract tourist centre. Finally, Enugu State Government should provide Adequate funds for the upkeep of the Mamu Forest Reserve (Oji River).