NIGERIA: OUTCOMES OF 1st COMMONWEALTH FORESTRY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE 2016

Group Photograph of Executive Officers of Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA), invited guests and participants at 1ST CFA Conference 2016 in Nigeria

Group Photograph of Participants with Deni Bown-Head of Forest Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on excursion to IITA Forest Reserve

Group Photograph of Participants of CFA Conference that attended QGIS Workshop in the Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

THEME OF THE CONFERENCE The theme of the 1st Commonwealth Forestry Association Conference 2016, Nigeria Chapter was ‘Forestry and Allied Natural Resource Disciplines in Nigerian Institutions: Inputs for Future Solutions to Dwindling Forest Estate in Nigeria’. The conference was held from 10 to 12 October, 2016 at Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Jericho Hills, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. It was a research oriented conference that brought together forestry and allied natural resource scientists, graduates, development experts and policy makers from higher institutions and research institutes to proffer future solutions to the dwindling Nigerian Forest Estate. By standard, Nigeria is expected to reserve 25% of her Land under gazette forests. The colonial administration in Nigeria before independence reserved 10% of Nigerian land under forest. However, the remaining forest estate in Nigeria has dwindled without a drastic approach to revamp the forest reserves with gazette notices over the years. Scientists have been multiplying in Forestry and Allied Natural Resource Disciplines with various novel research findings in their institutions. The conference aimed at salient and coherent contributions of forest scientists in Nigerian institutions to proffer solutions to the complex problems militating against Nigerian Forest Estate. Added values to complement 1st ever CFA Conference 2016, Nigeria Chapter included an ‘excursion’ to International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Forest Reserve, Idiose, Ibadan by participants and a ‘workshop’ on Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) in the Department of Forest Resources Management (DFRM), University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Specific Outcomes of the 1st CFA Conference, Nigeria Chapter Attendance The conference was well attended by young and established forestry scientists in Nigeria. Scientists from the following universities and Institutes in Nigeria attended and participated in a 3-day-conference: University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; University of Uyo, Nigeria; University of Ilorin, Nigeria; University of Calabar, Nigeria; University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Federal University of Dutsin-ma, Nigeria; Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ngeria; Federal University Gashua, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria; Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, IjebuOde, Ogun State, Nigeria; University of Pretoria, South Africa; Universities Felix HouphouetBoigny, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan; Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan; Federal College of Forestry, Jos, Nigeria; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Forest Unit, Ibadan, Nigeria; Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor-Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Kano State, Nigeria; and Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan. Five prominent teachers of teachers in Forestry Profession in Nigeria attended and participated in the conference. They were Emeritus Professor S. Kolade Adeyoju, Emeritus Professor D. U. U. Okali, Professor S. A. Oluwalana, Professor J. S. A. Osho and Professor M.S. Ayodele. Emerging Issues at the Conference The following emerging issues were discussed and deliberated upon at the conference:

i. Dwindling Forest Estate in Nigeria;

ii. Forestry Profession;

iii. Creation of more Forestry Research Institutes in Nigeria; and

iv. Proposal for Federal Government owned Forest Estate in various States in Nigeria

Communiqué The following communiqués to CFA United Kingdom, Forestry Decision Makers and to our Peer Colleagues were made at the Conference:

1. Consolidation of Remaining Forest Reserves in the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Geometrical progression in population of Nigerians over the years has been depriving State Forestry agencies to meet International Standard of 25 percent forest reservation set for every country in the world. Therefore, every state in Nigeria should of necessity consolidate her remaining forest estate and also create friendly environment for

Joint Forest Management, Community-Based Forest Management, and Private participation in forest investment to increase forest cover.

2. Forestry Profession The number of forestry graduates in Nigeria these days has tremendously increased because virtually all the states in the federation have Universities where forestry as a discipline is taught. However, a lot of these graduates are unemployed. The latent opportunities where these graduates should be fully engaged are yet to be explored by state governments. Example is massive replenishment of exploited forest reserves with enrichment plantation of indigenous and exotic species. Employment of these forestry graduates in all the 36 States in Nigeria is very imperative for the implementation of research outputs in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

3. Creation of additional Four Forestry Research Institutes in Nigeria Agricultural Sector in Nigeria has more than Twenty (20) Research Institutes while Forestry Sector has only One (1) Research Institute. In the quest for expansion of knowledge in Renewable Natural Resources in Nigeria, University of Ibadan, Nigeria recently made a giant stride for the splitting of Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry through National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja into two, namely: i. Faculty of Agriculture; and ii. Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources.

Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan, Nigeria now has four approved Academic Departments under the auspices of NUC, Nigeria as follows: a. Department of Forest Production and Products

b. Department of Social and Environmental Forestry c. Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management d. Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management

It is therefore, recommended that for Forestry Profession to be relevant in the economy of Nigeria, additional four (4) new Forestry Research Institutes should be created by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The new institutes are as follows:

a. Institute of Forest Production and Products b. Institute of Social and Environmental Forestry c. Institute of Forest Policy and Economics d. Institute of Wildlife and Ecotourism

4. Proposal for Federal Government owned Forest Estate

The Federal Government of Nigeria should diplomatically liaise with all the 36 States for acquisition of at least 50,000 Hectares of land in each state of the federation for immediate future creation of Federal Government Forest Estate. This would enable Federal Government to increase forest cover in all the states in Nigeria. The creation of Federal Forest Reserve in each state of the Federation would enhance quantity and quality of forest resources available to Nigerians as at when due in the future.

Photographs taken at Conference Hall, FRIN; Excursion at IITA; and QGIS Workshop in DFRM

Dr. A.O. Adepoju, Executive Director, FRIN declaring 1st CFA Emeritus Professor S. Kolade Adeyoju presenting the Keynote Conference in Nigeria opened on the 10 October, 2016 Address at CFA Conference in Nigeria

Professor B.O. Agbeja (CFA, President, Nigeria Chapter) Deni Bown (Forest Manager, IITA Forest Reserve) presenting presenting the lead paper at CFA Conference 2016 the lead paper at CFA Conference 2016

Emeritus Professor D. U. U. Okali at CFA Conference The Principal Officers’ Management of FRIN at CFA Conference

Dr. O. R. Adejoba (CFA Secretary) cross checking the list of Emeritus Professor S. Kolade Adeyoju (Forest Policy, Law and CFA Participants with Dr. Bunmi Adejoh while a participant Administration and Emeritus Professor D. U. U. Okali (Forest Ecology) watches with keen interest at CFA Conference

Professor O.Y. Ogunsanwo cordinating CFA Conference Participants at the CFA Conference Technical Session Technical Session

Professors A. C. Adetogun (Vice-President, CFA) and B. O. Agbeja From Left to Right: Drs. Adedeji Adejumo, Bunmi Adejoh, Johnson (President, CFA) directing the events of CFA Conference Geply and Ene Abi( Forest Scientists from FRIN) attended and participated at the CFA Conference

Miss. O.H. Aderanti and Professor A.O. Oluwadare at CFA Professor J.S.A. Osho having a hand shake with Dr. Joyce Amadi while Conference Professor A. O. Oluwalana, Mr. Fred Yakubu and Dr. J.J. Geply were catching the glimpse

Mr. A.O. Onefeli presenting his paper at CFA Drs. A.A. Alo and O.F. Falade in-charge of CFA Conference Logistics at FRIN Conference

Professor B.O. Agbeja (CFA President, Nigeria Chapter) planted Nauclea diderichii (Opepe) at Heritage Park of IITA on the 12 October, 2016 to commemorate the 1st ever CFA Conference 2016 in Nigeria while Deni Bown (Forest Manager, IITA) and participants catching a glimpse

CFA Participants heading towards the IITA Secondary Forest Reserve on excursion. Participants heading towards the IITA Secondary Forest Reserve

CFA Participants on educational tour in IITA Secondary Forest led by Deni Bown (IITA Forest Manager)

Milicia excelsa (Iroko) being preserved at IITA Forest Reserve An indigenous tree species facing extinction being preserved at IITA Secondary forest

Dynamic Forest Scientists posing with Deni Bown and Professor Drs. J.J. Geply, Ene Abi, Bunmi Adejoh and Mercy Akpan posing with B. O. Agbeja at IITA Forest Reseve Deni Bown and Professor B.O. Agbeja at IITA Forest Reserve

Participants at IITA Forest Reserve Professor S.A. Oluwalana and Dr. Ene A. Abi presenting the Certificate of Participation of CFA Conference to Deni Bown

Dr. A.A. Alo (Course instructor of QGIS) with CFA Participants Participants of CFA attending QGIS Workshop in the DFRM in the Department ofForest Resources Management (DFRM), University of Ibadan, Nigeria