The Impact Of Population Growth On Deforestation And Climatic Conditions Of Mid-Western Nigeria

ABSTRACT The paper examines the impact of population growth on deforestation and climatic variations in Mid-Western Nigeria. Population data, forest area coverage and climatic data were collected for 30 years (1971-2000). These were computed and the result shows that: population figure doubled within this period, rising from 3.01 million to 6.08 million with an annual growth rate of 3.4%. This has led to a reduction of forest area front 6347.8 km2 in 1971 to 1712.3 km2 in 2000. Total .area deforested stood at 4635.5 km2 with annual mean deforestation of 154.4 km2 representing 2.43% and afforestation of only 21. 66 km2. The projection shows that should the deforestation rate continue, the natural forest may not survive the year 2020. The combined effects of population growth and deforestation have resulted in gradually increasing temperature since 1976, and a decreasing rainfall and relative humidity. While temperature increased by 0. 62°C (1971-2000) rainfall and relative humidity decreased by 112mm and 2% respectively. A strong positive and significant correlation exist between population growth and deforestation (0.89), population growth and temperature (0.67) while negative relationship was observed between population growth and rainfall (-0.58), population growth and relative humidity (-0.24). This implies that an increasing population leads to increasing deforestation and temperature, but decreasing rainfall and relative humidity. A model of the general effects of population growth is constructed and to reduce the pressure of population growth on deforestation and climatic variation, it is suggested that population control and family planning is a must. Alternative to fuel--wood such as electricity, cooking gas and kerosene should be regularly available and made cheaper while afforestation programme should be intensified. Kata Kunci.: popolation growth - deforestation - western Nigeria - climatic condition