AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF WOODEN FURNITURE INDUSTRY IN JOS METROPOLIS PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The paucity of information on the marketed wood products has contributed to poor planning and development of wood industry in Nigeria. The study was generally aimed at assessing the performance of wooden furniture industry in Jos metropolis. Specifically, the study assessed wood species mostly used for wooden furniture making and assessed the profitability of wooden furniture in Jos metropolis, and identifies challenges of wood furniture makers in Jos metropolis in Plateau State. The study adopted a survey design while cluster sampling was applied to draw the study sample from the five Local Government areas (LGAs) that comprised Jos metropolis. Applying 30% sampling intensity, 129 respondents were selected from total number of 421 furniture makers. Data was collected using semi-structured interview. Descriptive statistics and budgeting tools were used in the analysis of the data. The result showed that all the furniture makers were males, while their qualifications ranged between primary (78.1%) secondary (19.3%) and tertiary institution (2.6%). The study also revealed that ten wood species were used in furniture making in the study area. Milicia excelsa ranked first, followed by Tectona grandis, Pterocarpus erinaceous while Prosopis africana and Anageissus leiocarpa were the least ranked, (ninth and tenth), respectively. The budgetary analysis indicated profitability in the industry by furniture makers. It revealed a gross margin of ₦38,409.1 and Net income of ₦6,247.84 while Gross ratio (GR) and Rate of return on investment (RORI) were 0.75 and 4.2 respectively. The study revealed that limited wood supply was the biggest challenge while government interference was the least challenge that affected the industry. The Study thus recommends for deliberate efforts by the private sector and government towards regeneration and tree planting of the species used by the industry. Hence, investment in the resource base will ensure sustainable supply of raw materials for the continued existence of the furniture industry and its contribution to economic growth and development

Assessment of wood waste generation and utilization in Makurdi metropolis: Implication for sustainable management of forest resources

This study assessed forest waste generation and utilization in Makurdi metropolis. The increasing quantities of wood wastes from timber sheds, furniture industries and chainsaw millers possess a threat to the sustainable management of forest resources and environmental sustainability. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, mean, percentages and tables, were used  to analyze the result. A five-point Likert scale was used to determine the level of utilization ofwood wastes. The findings of the study revealed three major sources of wood waste which were: timber sheds (37.8%), furniture factories (33%) and chainsaw millers (29.2%) while the types of wood wastes include: sawdust (14.9%), wood chippings (12.8%), wood shavings (21.1%), offcuts (20.2%) and trims (21%). Generated wood wastes were utilized as: animal beddings (39.4%) mulching (28%), generation of household energy (22.7%) briquettes production (6.0%) and engineered wood production (3.9%). The result on the level of utilization of wood waste indicated that it was low with Weighted Mean Score (WMS) of 1.9042. Lack of awareness (55.9%) was the most limiting factor of wood waste utilization followed by lack of technical know-how (18.6%), lack of start-up capital (25%) while the least limiting factor was inadequate raw material (0.5%). This study therefore concludes that the level of utilization of wood waste in Makurdi metropolis was very low. It is therefore, recommended that policy measures or incentives should be provided to wood merchants to encourage investments into utilization of wood wastes in Makurdi metropolis. Keywords: Wood waste, Wood generation, Wood utilization, Sustainable managemen

Assessment on forest offences in North-central zone of Benue State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess forest offences in North-central zone of Benue State. Purposive sampling and complete  enumeration were applied in data collection. Descriptive statistics, Likert scale and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the results. The result revealed that illegal felling (88.9%), poaching (70.4%), bush burning (85.2%), farm encroachment (81.5%), cattle grazing (81.5%) were identified as the major types of forest offences. Poverty (70.4%) had the highest proportion of causal factors responsible for forest offences. This was followed by unemployment (85.2%), ignorance (66.7%), while the least was high cost of permit (22.6%). The result also showed that extinction of flora and fauna (77.8%), land degradation loss of revenue (77.8%), loss of revenue (74.1%) and decline of timber species (74.1%) were the major impacts of forest offences in the North-central Zone of Benue State.  Impact of forest offences on the conservation of biodiversity in the study was high with mean values between 3.78 to 4.00. while the analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the variables considered. The challenges faced by respondents on forest offences were: fines with highest value of 81% followed by conservation education (77.8%), high cost of permit (74.1%), low awareness (74.1%), prosecution of offenders (70.4%), government policies (51.9%) and inadequate personnel (66.7%). The study concludes that forest offences are prevalent with high impact in the study area. Also, poverty and unemployment were identified as the major  causative factors Hence, the study recommends enforcement of forest legislations and effective governance of forest of forest  resources. It also recommends that deliberate efforts should be made by government and private organisations toward awareness, poverty reduction and job creation to reduce negative impacts on forest resources in the study area. Keywords: Forest offences, Conservation, Sustainable forest managemen