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The Need to Conserve and Protect Forest Resources: African Perspective

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Sustainable Utilization and Conservation of Africa’s Biological Resources and Environment

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development and Biodiversity ((SDEB,volume 32))

Abstract

The tropical rain forests in Africa are rapidly vanishing because of constant increase in the demand for forest resources (timber and non-timber products) and forest lands for agricultural expansion and infrastructural development. These forest resources provide man with materials that aid in the satisfaction of our basic needs. It is very important to retain these benefits for future utilization in a sustainable way to meet increasing human population demands and ensure a stable eco-friendly environment, conserving, protecting, and maintaining the remaining forests biodiversity from further unsustainable exploitation. The methods of conserving these genetic resources are global concerns to nations of tropical and subtropical forests lands including Nigeria, where the rate of forests degradation is high. Nations have adopted biodiversity conventions to enhance sustainable approach in ensuring the conservation of forest resources. Some of the strategies in Nigeria include NBSAPs (National biodiversity strategies and action plans) which is aimed at encouraging the government of participating countries with an integrated template for effective biodiversity conservation approach and National REDD+ Strategy (Reducing Emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) project that will oversee the implementation and enforcement of new tactical approaches for sustainable management and conservation of the forests while augmenting carbon stock in Nigeria. Therefore, this research is aimed at identifying the need for the conservation of forest resources to nations and highlighting the effects of deforestation, the application of possible biodiversity conservation method needed for future utilization, and availability of these natural resources through effective enforcement of the biodiversity laws by the governments of participant countries from various conventions relating to biodiversity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forestry Department, Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

    Sampson Abigha Inatimi

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  1. Sampson Abigha Inatimi
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

    Sylvester Chibueze Izah

  2. Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development, Living Learning Center, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA

    Matthew Chidozie Ogwu

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Inatimi, S.A. (2023). The Need to Conserve and Protect Forest Resources: African Perspective. In: Izah, S.C., Ogwu, M.C. (eds) Sustainable Utilization and Conservation of Africa’s Biological Resources and Environment. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, vol 32. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6974-4_8

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