Akure Forest Reserve
[22] Furthermore, the Akure Forest Reserve provides invaluable ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water regulation, habitat preservation, and cultural significance.
It acts as a vital carbon sink, mitigating the impacts of climate change, while also regulating local water cycles and serving as a sanctuary for numerous plant and animal species.
[26] Other scholars who have studied on various aspects and extents of deforestation in this forest reserve include; Adetula[27] who estimated that 11.73% (8.2 km2) of the area had been cleared for cocoa farming and other food crops; Fuwape et al.[28] documented the Gmelina arborea covered (721.40 m3) and Nauclea diderrichii spp.
(265.18 m3), respectively; Oke[29] worked on the family Sterculiaceae including the species counted for 53% of the total tree canopies in Akure forest reserve.
Owusu's (2018)[30] research, submits that the disappearance of vegetation in the city is raising livability issues with regard to ecosystem function, temperature rise, and air quality.
In Africa, and Nigeria specifically, there is a notable lack of comprehensive information concerning the diversity of tree species and the dynamics of ecological succession within its natural tropical rainforests.
The rainforest ecosystems in Nigeria represent the most densely populated regions of the country and play a critical role in meeting the nation's timber demands.
[31] However, these ecosystems have faced immense challenges due to a lengthy history of uncontrolled human activities, including illegal logging, poaching, and the conversion of forested areas for agriculture and development projects, a legacy dating back to pre-colonial times.
[31] This sustained and mounting pressure on these forests has resulted in their gradual disappearance, along with a consequent loss of biodiversity, encompassing both plant and animal life.
The rich tropical rainforests of Nigeria's southwest and southeast geopolitical zones, celebrated for their diverse plant species, are particularly vulnerable to these threats.
While forests, especially in the tropics, serve as crucial reservoirs of biodiversity, the processes of deforestation, fragmentation, and degradation pose severe threats to this ecological richness.
The assessment of biodiversity emerges as a crucial tool in gauging the pace of forest depletion within reserves, offering insights into the ramifications of diverse land use activities.
Illicit removal of trees amplifies global warming and exacerbates shortages of wood, impacting both industries and the general standard of living.
The call for comprehensive inventory practices becomes imperative to discern the abundance and diversities of forest trees, laying a foundation for effective conservation efforts.
Cultural and non-secular significance: The Akure Forest Reserve, like many natural areas worldwide, faces various demanding situations and threats that jeopardize its ecological integrity and the advantages it gives to communities.
[47] However, the reserve faces a number of challenges and threats, including encroachment and deforestation, poaching and illegal logging, and the impacts of climate change.
[47][48] Addressing these challenges and threats requires a multi-faceted approach that includes effective conservation policies, sustainable land-use planning, community engagement, law enforcement, and climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
[51][60] It's crucial to prioritize the long-term health and resilience of the Akure Forest Reserve to ensure it continues to provide valuable ecosystem services and benefits to both nature and society.
Prior to the onset of the industrial revolution, greenhouse gas concentrations remained relatively stable, and human influence on climate was primarily localized.
