Assessment of Quantities and Seasonal Harvest of Fuel Wood Exploitation in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria
This study assessed domestic fuel wood exploitation in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to understand the peak season of fuel wood collection at different time of the year and determine the quantities of fuel wood family members harvest in a week. This study employed mixed methods of multistage and cross sectional research design using questionnaire instrument to generate data. Part of the year with the highest fuel wood collection was late dry season having 33.4% of the response. The season with second highest collection of fuel wood by respondents was all year having 22.1%. This was thirdly followed by early dry season with a response of 19.2%. Thus, 37.1% of the respondents indicated that they harvested 4-6 bundles of fuel wood with their family members in a week. This was seconded by 30% respondents who revealed that 1-3 bundles of fuel wood were harvested in a week. Thus, 25% of the family members harvested 7-9 bundles of fuel wood in a week. The least response was 7.9% who responded that 10 bundles and above of fuel wood were harvested in a week. The study has recommended provision of alternative energy, government to regulate deforestation practice, education and sensitization of local community people on the regulation of fuel wood harvest, practice of tree planting, and alternative employment opportunities to local community people.
Keywords: Fuel, Harvest, Quantities, Seasonality, Wood
