Prerequisite for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Sub-Saharan Africa

The achievement of equitable and sustainable development remains thegreatest challenge facing people of developing countries. Despite significanteconomic progress recorded in some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in thelast decade or so, a substantial proportion of the people in Africa still live inacute poverty and suffer immensely from inadequate access to economic and social resources. As the agricultural sector dominates the economics of most Sub-Saharan African countries, it will be pertinent to improve the rate of agricultural growth and rural development that will in turn give asustainable development. This paper explores the prerequisites and priorities for sustainable growth in Africa. Drawing heavily on lessons from the past, it examines the conditions for achieving sustainable development

Relationship between Height and Stump Diameter for Terminalia Ivorensis (A.Chev) in Sokponba Forest Reserve, Edo State, Nigeria

Height (H) and Diameter (D) data from Terminalia ivorensis stand were assessed to establish a relationship between height and stump diameter. Two hundred and sixteen (216) individual trees from eighteen randomly selected Temporary sample plots (TSPs) within a forty-year old plantation were used in study. The data collected were fitted to seven different regression models; of which the logarithmic model was adjudged the best, based on regression statistics diagnostic criteria. The equation is LogH = 1.2493 + 0.005LogD with the adjusted coefficient of determination (adj. R2) and overall standard error of 0.9907 and 0.028 respectively and thus found being the best goodness of fit model. Residual analysis showed conformity with the assumption of independence errors in regression analysis. The equations were validated using another set of trees that were not part of those used for estimating the model parameters. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was obtained when the predicted and the observed values were compared using ANOVA and Duncan Multiple Range Test

Quantitative Analysis of Complex Tropical Forest Stands: A Review

The importance of data analysis in quantitative assessment of natural resources remains significant in the sustainable management of complex tropical forest resources. Analyses of data from complex tropical forest stands have not been easy or clear due to improper data management. It is pivotal to practical researches and discovery that promote development in forestry and many related disciplines. Many quantitative methods andapproaches are strongly dependent on the source, nature, and quality of the data. However, many issues related to data analysis in the tropical complex forests are inimical and may render quantitative methods impossible if not resolved. Data collection in many complex tropical forests is very difficult and oftentimes results in data violating simple assumptions of statistical models. The use of relevant data transformation proffers significant solution to this perennial challenge within the complex tropical forests. This paper therefore reviews statistical issues related to quantitative data collection and analyses in the complex tropical forests and provides pragmatic approaches for solving data analysis challenges in complex tropical forests’ management and planning.Keywords: data issues, analysis, complex stands, forestr

Height-Diameter Predictive Equations for Rubber (Hevea brasilliensis-A. Juss- Muell) Plantation, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

The importance of calibrating models on height-diameter relationship can never be over emphasized in predicting mean total height for trees when only diameter at breast height is measured traditionally. This study has evaluated a set of height-diameter models from twenty plots of Hevea brasilliensis plantation in Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Non linear techniques were used to develop the functional models with models coefficients derived from 198 sampled standing trees. The predictive models gave a good height - diameter relationship from all the sampled plots in the plantation with coefficients of determination (R2) of strong relationships ranging between 0.62 - 0.98. Many of the resulting models and curves agreed with silvicultural expectation of sigmoidal growth functions; and can provide dependable cum flexible options of predicting heights, given dbh for many plantation species in Nigeria.Keywords: height-diameter equations, allometric models, predictive equations, sigmoidal curveJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Demographic Differentials of Forest Based Enterprises in South West Nigeria

This paper analyses the differential demographic variables that influence the profitability potential of some forest based enterprises in south western Nigeria, using empirical regression models. Best fit criteria techniques were employed to determine the best demographic variables models and their relationships in affecting the performance of the models expressing profitability. There were significant differences among various enterprises on which the demographic parameters were modeled. Wood furniture making activities in Oyo State under linear, semi-log and exponential regression modeling gave very significant models, Mortal making enterprises in Lagos State of Nigeria under the exponential, semi-log and double-log had significant regression relationship with coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.78). The similar trend was observed in Canoe making of Ondo State and Mat weaving activities in Osun State under semi-log cum double-log and exponential respectively when determining the regression relationship of the demographic parameters on the forest based enterprises in the State.Keyword: socio-economic variables, empirical models, forest based, enterprisesJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Attractions to and Challenges involved in Studying Abroad: the Case of Kampala International University

Uganda is a major foreign higher education student receiving country in Eastern Africa. However, hitherto, the factors attracting foreign students to the country and the challenges the students encounter in studying at the institutions had not attracted scholarly attention. Therefore, taking the case of Kampala International University, this study investigated these attractions and challenges. Using questionnaire, data were collected from a random sample of 120 international students and analysed using percentages. The findings were that the quality with which Ugandan higher education is associated; security in Uganda; diversity and flexibility of study programs and schedules in the country’s higher education system; friendliness of student immigration policies; and affordability of study programs attract foreign students to the country. Conversely, rising costs of living, language barriers and differences in pre-university academic achievement grading systems between Uganda and some foreign student sending countries were identified as the main challenges facing the international students.Keywords: International students; Study abroad; Cross border educatio

Quantitative Review and Distribution Status of Mangrove Forest Species in West Africa

This paper statistically evaluated the distribution of mangrove forest distributions in Nineteen (19) countries of Africa where eight major species of mangrove exist. Secondary data about mangrove forest coverage from literature were obtained in respect of 19 countries of West Africa where mangrove forest exists for six years. The data were subjected to ANOVA statistical analysis using STATISTICA software package. The results indicated highest estimates of mangrove coverage in Nigeria with highest total mangrove coverage of 7386km2 and Sao Tome Principe with lowest estimates of 1.4km2. The results indicated that most West African mangroves forests suffer progressive decline particularly the countries that have large mangrove forests. The results also suggest that most West African countries are yet to evolve conservation ethics for their mangrove forests. Of all the countries, the Nigerian mangrove forest is the most threatened by fragmentation, isolation and surface drainage alteration that could be traced to indiscriminate logging, urbanization and recent oil and gas activities in the Niger Delta.Keyword: Mangrove forests, West African Forests, Forest evaluatio

Biodegrading effects of some rot fungi on Pinus caribaea wood

Wood samples were collected from a ten-year old plantation of Pinus caribaea (morelet) in Ijaiye Forest Reserve, 38 km northwest of Ibadan, Nigeria. The wood samples were inoculated separately with twospecies of white-rot fungi; Corioliopsis polyzona and Pleurotus squarrosulus, and two species of brownrot fungi; Lentinus lepideus and Gleophyllum, striatum. Wood weight loss due to biodegradation variedfrom 1.5 – 48.1% for Corioliopsis polyzona, 9.6 – 58.0% for Pleurotus squarrosulus, 40.4 – 78.1% for Lentinus lepideus and 6.8 – 49.2% for Gleophyllum striatum degrading activities. The mode of wooddegradation was peculiar with each fungus. Wood decay varied along the tree bole but was not related to height above the ground. The results indicated that biodegradation by rot fungi differs in intensityaccording to the fungus species and this suggested that preservative impregnation and retention may be the best way to control the rots to make P. caribaea a utility wood