Protected area in Nigeria
Akure Forest Reserve is a protected area in southwest Nigeria, covering . The Akure Forest Reserve, established in 1948 and spanning approximately 32 hectares. It was created with the primary aim of safeguarding the genetic diversity of the forest ecosystem. About 11.73% (8.2 km2) is estimated to be cleared for cocoa farming and other food crops. Aponmu and Owena Yoruba speaking communities owned the forest, though, there are also minor settlements surrounding the forest. They include Ipogun, Kajola/ Aponmu, Kajola, Ago Petesi, Akika Camp, Owena Town, Ibutitan/Ilaro Camp, Elemo Igbara Oke Camp and Owena Water new Dam.
Within the forest reserve, an area of about 600 hectares of forest was set aside as the Strict Nature Reserve (SNR), often referred to as the "Queen’s plot". This site is among Nigeria's Strict Nature Forest Reserves. SNRs, along with wilderness zones, are designated areas primarily intended for research and safeguarding extensive, untouched wilderness regions. Their main goal is to conserve biodiversity and serve as essential reference for scientific research and environmental monitoring.
In recent decades, there has been a large deforestation in this area, which has a huge impact on the environment. Akure Forest reserve is a forested area set aside for preservation or controlled use and located at Ile Oluji/Okeigbo, Ondo State, Nigeria, with a Latitude of 7° 17′ 39″ N and Longitude of 5° 2′ 3″ E.
Geographical area.
The Akure Forest Reserve is situated in the Ondo State, Nigeria, a region in Akure South Local Government Area.  It falls within longitudes 5o9′ and 5o11′ east of the Greenwich Meridian and latitudes 7o16′ and 7o18′ north of the equator. It was established as a reserve in 1936. It covers a land area of about 69.93km2. Politically, it is located in Ondo State in southwest Nigeria and shares a border with Osun State in the northeast. The Akure forest reserve share border with the five LGAs, in Ondo State namely : Ile Oluji, Oke-Igbo, Ifedore, Akure South, Idanre and Ondo East.
Climatic condition.
Akure has a tropical humid climate with a minimum and maximum daily temperature range of 27 °C - 38 °C respectively, in the wet season and 23 °C - 39 °C respectively in the dry season. However, according to Adejoba et al., the average daily temperature ranges between 21 °C and 29 °C for nearly the entire year. The wet season in this area lasts about 9.6 months with a monthly rainfall of about 0.5inches, with 9.0 inches in September as the wettest month The average annual rainfall varies from 2000mm in the south to 1500mm in the north. The yearly relative humidity in the south-west range from 80-85%. The wet season begins in April and ends in October, with the heaviest rainfall records occurring in July and August, while the dry season lasts from November to March.
Significant Developments Over the Years.
The history of the Akure Forest Reserve has been marked by notable milestones and transformations in its management and ecological dynamics:
Topography.
The southern portion of the terrain is low lying, gently undulating, and has an elevation range of 216 to 504 meters, while the northern portion has hilly rock outcrops that are spaced closely together. Gneiss and crystalline rocks make up the ground beneath. It has a pH range of 6.7 to 7.3 and is sandy-loam in composition. Furthermore, the Akure Forest Reserve provides invaluable ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water regulation, habitat preservation, and cultural significance. It acts as a vital carbon sink, mitigating the impacts of climate change, while also regulating local water cycles and serving as a sanctuary for numerous plant and animal species.
Flora and fauna.
Akure forest reserve is home to diverse species of plants and animals. It has a high diversity, richness, and abundance of plant species, with Nine hundred and fifty-six (956) unique trees counted in total; It contains 42 different tree species, which were dispersed among 20 different families. The most prevalent families were Sterculiaceae and Apocynaceae demonstrating the abundance of plant species in the area. Four diurnal primates in two families are present in the forest. Two of these primates were detected through direct sighting. The third and the fourth were discovered through the interview with hunters in the adjoining villages which confirmed that three species of monkeys (Owe = "Cercocebus torquatus"; Lambe or Obo = "Cercopithecus mona", and Oto = "Putty nosed monkey") are present in the reserve. Some of the hunters interviewed also affirmed that very few chimpanzees ("Pan troglodytes)" could still be present in the forest because they seldom hear the vocalization of the animal. Akure forest reserve is also home to diverse number of insect species with about 13,578 insects distributed among 30 families belonging to 15 orders. In the forest ecosystem, insect diversification is categorized into three distinct land use types. Within the fallow land, a total of 5,182 insects were observed, representing 46 different families and spanning 8 orders. In the cocoa agroforest, 5,884 insects were documented, encompassing 50 families and 10 orders. The unlogged forest, on the other hand, contained 2,490 insects, spanning 10 orders and 56 families. Notably, the most abundant families and orders were Lepidoptera, with 4,000 individuals, and Orthoptera, with 1,260 individuals. These insects primarily act as defoliators within the ecosystem.
Human impacts.
Several researches have shown a tremendous human activities going on around the Akure forest reserve. These activities range from agriculture to lumbering, urbanization, etc. which are negatively affecting the reserve. Lumbering has significantly affected insect population in the forest as it leaves the soil bare and dry displacing them from their natural ecosystem. The worst, is that there is little or no awareness to the rural communities about preservation of the forest. For instance, these scholars observed that rural communities living around the forest reserve depend heavily on the forest for their livelihood. As a result of this, it has resulted in high level of deforestation. More so, very few members of the rural communities are aware of the program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation. Other scholars who have studied on various aspects and extents of deforestation in this forest reserve include; Adetula who estimated that 11.73% (8.2 km2) of the area had been cleared for cocoa farming and other food crops; Fuwape et al. documented the Gmelina arborea covered (721.40 m3) and Nauclea diderrichii spp. (265.18 m3), respectively; Oke worked on the family Sterculiaceae including the species counted for 53% of the total tree canopies in Akure forest reserve. Owusu's (2018) research, submits that the disappearance of vegetation in the city is raising livability issues with regard to ecosystem function, temperature rise, and air quality. As a result, he advised policymakers to address the three crucial issues of resilience, sustainability, and livability. In the southern section of the relief pattern.   The forest was owned by the Aponmu and Owena Yoruba speaking groups, although it was also surrounded by small towns. These include Elemo Igbara Oke Camp, Ipogun, Kajola/Aponmu, Kajola, Ago Petesi, Akika Camp, Owena Town, Ibutitan/Ilaro Camp, and Kajola/Aponmu.
Ecotourism is a nature-focused form of tourism that strives to alleviate the impact on the natural environment and promote the preservation of natural resources. It entails journeys to natural attractions that not only safeguard the local culture and environment but also support the welfare of the indigenous community. Ecotourism assets encompass both the natural and cultural aspects that draw visitors to an eco-friendly destination, forming the foundation of ecotourism and fostering a sustainable flow of tourists.
In Africa, and Nigeria specifically, there is a notable lack of comprehensive information concerning the diversity of tree species and the dynamics of ecological succession within its natural tropical rainforests. This knowledge gap is primarily attributed to the limited number of studies and investigations addressing these subjects. The rainforest ecosystems in Nigeria represent the most densely populated regions of the country and play a critical role in meeting the nation's timber demands.
However, these ecosystems have faced immense challenges due to a lengthy history of uncontrolled human activities, including illegal logging, poaching, and the conversion of forested areas for agriculture and development projects, a legacy dating back to pre-colonial times. This sustained and mounting pressure on these forests has resulted in their gradual disappearance, along with a consequent loss of biodiversity, encompassing both plant and animal life. These developments have brought significant hardship to the indigenous communities that rely on these forests for their livelihoods.
The Environmental Impact of Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss.
Deforestation and forest degradation persist at alarming rates, posing a significant threat to global biodiversity. Since 1990, approximately 420 million hectares of forested land have been converted for various land uses, despite a reduction in the overall deforestation rate over the past three decades. The estimated rate of deforestation between 2015 and 2020 remains notable at 10 million hectares annually, down from 16 million hectares in the 1990s. The global extent of primary forests has also experienced a substantial decline, shrinking by over 80 million hectares since 1990.
Major drivers of deforestation, identified include indiscriminate forest exploitation, agricultural expansion through forest clearance, encroachment, and population growth. The rich tropical rainforests of Nigeria's southwest and southeast geopolitical zones, celebrated for their diverse plant species, are particularly vulnerable to these threats.
The critical metric of biodiversity, measured by the heterogeneity in the number and density of individual species, faces peril due to deforestation. While forests, especially in the tropics, serve as crucial reservoirs of biodiversity, the processes of deforestation, fragmentation, and degradation pose severe threats to this ecological richness.
The assessment of biodiversity emerges as a crucial tool in gauging the pace of forest depletion within reserves, offering insights into the ramifications of diverse land use activities. Illicit removal of trees amplifies global warming and exacerbates shortages of wood, impacting both industries and the general standard of living. The call for comprehensive inventory practices becomes imperative to discern the abundance and diversities of forest trees, laying a foundation for effective conservation efforts.
Economic and social importance of the Akure Forest Reserve.
Economic and social importance of the Akure Forest Reserve in relation to non-timber forest products, tourism and recreation, and its cultural and religious significance:
1. Non-wooden Forest merchandise (NTFPs):
2. Tourism and exercise:
3. Cultural and non-secular significance:
Challenges and threats to Akure Forest Reserve.
The Akure Forest Reserve, like many natural areas worldwide, faces various demanding situations and threats that jeopardize its ecological integrity and the advantages it gives to communities. The reserve is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life, including many endangered species. However, the reserve faces a number of challenges and threats, including encroachment and deforestation, poaching and illegal logging, and the impacts of climate change.
Addressing these challenges and threats requires a multi-faceted approach that includes effective conservation policies, sustainable land-use planning, community engagement, law enforcement, and climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. It's crucial to prioritize the long-term health and resilience of the Akure Forest Reserve to ensure it continues to provide valuable ecosystem services and benefits to both nature and society.
Anthropogenic and Natural Factors Contributing to Climate Change.
In the contemporary context, global warming is undergoing significant acceleration, primarily due to the excessive release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Prior to the onset of the industrial revolution, greenhouse gas concentrations remained relatively stable, and human influence on climate was primarily localized. Early human impact on the climate was primarily confined to activities such as deforestation and wetland drainage for agricultural expansion.
In recent times, land use changes, particularly deforestation and extensive wetland drainage, have had a far-reaching impact on the global climate. This phenomenon has been greatly exacerbated by industrialization. Additionally, the intensification of agriculture worldwide has resulted in increased emissions of environmentally significant gases, notably nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4).
The emissions of aerosols and their precursors through human activities have been on the rise, largely attributed to industrial processes, as well as land and air transportation. These aerosol particles play a significant role in altering radiation within the atmosphere. All of these changes can be attributed to human influence on the climate and have become increasingly apparent. Therefore, the causes of climate change can be categorized into two main factors: anthropogenic (human-induced) and natural.
Future of Akure Forest Reserve.
Future of Akure Forest Reserve for Sustainable Management:
Importance of Protecting the Reserve:
In the end, the destiny of the Akure Forest Reserve lies in a sustainable management approach that balances conservation with the needs of neighborhood communities. Protecting the reserve is crucial for retaining biodiversity,