Fuel Wood Consumption and Environmental Degradation in Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of environmental degradation in Nigeria is becoming alarming due to increasing level of environmental abuse or unwise and careless exploitation of environmental resource such as fuel wood. Greater proportion of both urban and rural dwellers in Nigeria now depends on the fuel wood as a source for energy for their domestic and other commercial uses. This action is progressively degrading the environment weakening its capacity for self renewal and eroding its ability to play effectively its ecological roles. This paper therefore, highlights the degrading effects of fuel wood consumption on the environment, examining the major economic issues that sustain over dependence on fuel wood consumption. Practicable measures capable of reversing the ugly trends are suggested. Very importantly, the paper recognized poverty and unemployment a major factor that continue to fire – up the massive utilization of fuel wood in the country and calls for an urgent measure to reduce poverty and raise the purchasing power of the people.