Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

136 Potential for development and conservation of Dacryodes edulis

The major land use patterns in Sakpoba Forest Reserve are farming

(predominantly arable, plantation), taungya agroforestry systems and areas

set aside for biodiversity conservation and forest regeneration (Table 1). The

area was constituted and gazetted into forest reserve by the regional

government in 1912. Ownership and authority have changed hands between

regional and native authorities several times, but the Edo State government

now controls the management of the reserve. Since its constitution into

government forest reserve, natives have been granted the privilege to reside

and practice sedentary agriculture within approved demarcated areas close

to the communities. Traditional communal landowners enjoy the rights to

hunt and fish and to access other water resources as well as the right of way

along the Sapele-Sakpoba-Igbekhue motor road. Sakpoba Forest Reserve

occupies a significant position in forestry practices in Nigeria. Its proximity to

Benin City, Sapele and Agbor markets make it an attractive area of continued

forest development.

Land use system Area (km^2 ) Percentage

of total area(%)

Rain-fed arable 20 4

Irrigation arable 0 0

Permanent crops 104 20

Pasture 5 0.96

Swidden fallow 5.2 1

Forest 160 30.6

Urban/settlement 2 10.804

Marshy/swamped 26 5

Table 1. Predominant land use pattern in Sakpoba Forest Reserve

Source: FORMECU 1998.

Settlements in the Sakpoba Forest Reserve used to be served with good

motorable roads totaling about 320 kilometres (Table 2). The perennial rivers

used for transportation include the Jamieson and Ossiomo rivers. The main

Agbor-Sapele and Sakpoba-Idu roads were constructed in 1926 and 1940,

respectively, and timber exploiters have constructed various short log-

extraction routes. These roads are in terrible states of disrepair and available

for product extraction and transportation to major markets only during the

short dry period of the year.

The forest/vegetation type is moist evergreen lowland rainforest. This zone

is characterized by a potential evapotranspiration ratio of between 0.125 and

2. The average annual rainfall ranges between 1,000 mm and 3,000 mm, while
   the mean daily temperature is about 24°C. The climatic classification of the
   recorded production area according to the Köppen system falls within the
   rainy climate with or without dry season winter. The temperature of the coolest
   month is above 18°C. It is constantly moist, and rainfall in the driest month is
   not less than 60 mm (UNEP 1995).

08dacryodes.p65 136 22/12/2004, 11:05