Lumbering in Equatorial Africa

Lumbering may be defined as the sorting, felling of economic trees in the forest and transporting them as logs to the various places where they are processed for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes.

AREAS OF LUMBERING IN AFRICA

Lumbering is usually an activity by which is practiced in the various forest regions in Africa

1. In the equatorial forest of West Africa lumbering is done along the coast of Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
2. Lumbering is equally practiced extensively in the tropical forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)

• In East Africa forest, lumbering also thrives although in small quantity in Kenya, Uganda hardwood like camphor and coniferous trees (cedar and podocarp) are noticed.

The South Africa forest only produces a very small quantity of hardwood (ironwood, sneezewood) and softwood from yellow wood.

The Mediterranean forest can be located along the coast of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. The common trees found include Cedar, Juniler and Oak.

GENERAL CONDITIONS THAT FAVOUR LUMBERING IN AFRICA

There are several factors affecting lumbering in Africa.  They are as follows.

1. Vegetation plays a significant role in lumbering because it can only be practise in the forest zones where lumberable trees can be located.
2. Climate is another factor that aids lumbering. Rainfall and temperature plays vital roles, since lumbering can only thrives well in areas with high amount of rainfall.  Lumbering therefore is best in areas where annual rainfall is not less than 1500mm and temperature of 18^oC – 24^o
3. Good soil is another factor that favours the growth of forest. The forest can only thrive well in areas of loamy soil which contain a lot of moisture content to support the tree throughout the year.
4. Good transport network is another factor which can aid the development of lumbering. The development of lumbering relies on good transportation for the movement of the logs to where they can easily be processed and where they are needed as raw materials.
5. Lumbering as an occupation is a capital intensive venture. There are so many expenses incurred in the process of lumbering.
6. Human activities may influences the growth of lumbering in several ways. Man may decide to protect forest reserve by practicing afforestation.  On the other hand man may subject the forest to annual clearing and cutting down the lumberable trees thereby bringing the forest to savanna structure.

LUMBERING IN ZAIRE

In Zaire, rainforest occupies a larger percentage of the land which present a lot of lumberable trees.

Lumbering is favoured in Zaire due to the following

1. The vegetation is of rainforest which present a lot of lumberable trees both hardwood and softwood
2. The Zaire basin is equally favoured with rich alluvial soil which is relative fertile thereby supporting the growth of trees.
3. The Zaire basin is equally blessed with an annual rainfall of not than 1500mm and this favours the growth of lumberable trees.
4. The availability of good transport network coupled with the provision of captain makes lumbering to be much attractive in Zaire
5. Human activities also favours lumbering. Human beings cut down the trees for agricultural purposes while there may be the need to conserve the trees as forest reserves and reafforestation.
6. Zaire has an equator climate with a mean annual temperature of 27^o Since lumberable trees need this range of temperature, it therefore plays an impact in their growth.

METHODS INVOLVED IN ZAIRE LUMBERING

1. The lumbermen search for the various trees of Okoume, Limbe and Mahogany
2. Long handsaws and axe are used in cutting the trees
3. The use of power driven engine saws are used for cutting and splitting the logs
4. The logs are transported through the rails and rivers.

IMPORTANCE OF LUMBERING

1. It is a source of employment to many people
2. Timber is exported thereby yielding foreign exchange
3. The wood is used for boat making
4. Telephone and electricity poles are obtained through lumbering
5. Planks for building construction are also obtained
6. Timber is used for constructing (wooden) bridges across streams
7. Other wood products are wood pulp, veneer, plywood and particle board.

            PROBLEMS LUMBERING IN AFRICA

1. The forest contains numerous tree species.
2. The useful trees are scatter all over the forest and a species road may have to construct in order to have access to a particular tree.
3. Some of the logs are so large and so heavy that they do not float in water.
4. Where the canopy intermingle with each other as is usually the case, felling becomes a serious problem.
5. There is problem of capital.
6. Most countries do not practise any extensive afforestation.
7. The use of tropical hardwoods for paper and pulp is limited.
8. Tropical woods are generally hard and difficult to work, unlike temperate coniferous trees which are easy to work. This further reduces the demand for tropical hardwoods
9. There is also the problem of capital. Most of the countries do not have money to build enough saw mils so that more timber can be expected sawn rather than as logs
10. Tropical hardwoods occur in hot and humid regions which do not readily attract labour and capital

SOLUTION TO LUMBERING PROBLEMS

1. Afforestation which is the policy of planting of at least two trees in place of one tree cut down in any area.
2. Roads should be constructed round lumbering areas in the forest for easy transportation of logs
3. Forest guards should be employed to check illegal falling of trees and ensure planting of new tree
4. Improved technological system of felling trees through the use engine – operated saws
5. Discouragement of both bush fallowing and bush burninThe use of public enlightenment campaign to discourage illegal felling of trees and the resultant effects on the environment.

PASTORAL FARMING

Pastoral farming is a system of agriculture involving the keeping of livestock.  They include Goat, Sheep and Cattle for both domestic and commercial purposes.  This system of agricultural practise is very much pronounced in the Sudan and Sahel Savanna regions of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Nigeria, all in West Africa.

Pastoral farming is also practiced in the wettish and tse-tse fly free areas of the East African Highlands, particularly in the Massai Reserve Grassland along the Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania borders.  In West Africa, pastoral farming is common among the Fulani and Hausa tribes, whereas in East Africa, it is taken as an important occupation among the Massai, Karamojon and Beja tribes.

TYPES OF PASTORAL FARMING

Basically, two forms of pastoral farming are noticed in Africa, namely: Transhumance and Pastoral Nomadism.

Transhumance:  This form of pastoral farming involves the movement of cattle with the respective owners from lowland areas during rainy seasons to the highland areas and from highland areas in dry season to lowland areas, in search of green pasture at these respective period.

Pastoral Nomadism:  This system of agriculture involves the up and down movement of cattle and their respective owners form one place to another in search of green pasture and adequate water as seen in Nigeria.

CONDITIONS THAT FAVOUR PASTORAL FARMING

1. Good equitable climate
2. The presence of grassland vegetation particularly, in the savanna vegetation region
3. The presence of large expanse of land for grazing
4. The complete absence of tse-tse fly in the vegetation belt which may cause sleeping sickness
5. The cultural belief of the people such as the Massais and the Fulani’s
6. Ready market for the various products
7. Moderate rainfall

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF PASTORAL FARMING

1. It serves as a major source of food
2. It provides foreign exchange to the practicing countries since they serves as major exports for the nation
3. It provides income to farmers
4. It serves as major source of power since most of the animals are used to pull farm implements
5. Their products serve as raw material to various industries
6. It creates job opportunities to both the cattle rearers and the various butchers

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH PASTORAL FARMING

1. The low level of education of the cattle rearers
2. Inadequate rainfall leading to poor grass formation and water consumption by the animals
3. Overgrazing of grasses often lead to soils erosion
4. Lack of proper health care of the animals as the veterinary personnel are often in short supply.
5. Insufficiency of drugs and vaccines
6. Presence of tse-tse fly in some parts of the areas impede the full operation
7. Lack of capital for extensive system of rearing animals.

METHODS ADOPTED TO IMPROVE PASTORAL FARMING IN AFRICA

1. Nomadic education should be encouraged for the herdsmen as proposed by the Nigeria Government
2. Adequate vaccines and drugs should be provided at subsidized rate
3. More opportunities should be granted to veterinary officers in order to increase their numbers
4. Better breeds of cattle and other animals should be introduced
5. More research work should be introduced
6. Ranching should be encouraged.