Nigeria: The Impact of Bush Fire And Tree Felling

analysis

Bush fires and felling of trees have been a part of Nigerian history for hundreds of years; People used bush fires to their benefit to manage the land and as a hunting aid and trees are used as or sold for fuel or a commodity to be used by humans. Climate experts and agriculturalists have said these human activities have contributed to global warming and deprived the soil the key nutrients elements needed by plants in large quantities.

Bush fires in Nigeria are ignited by farmers during the dry season in the process of land clearance. Bushfires have existed for as long as trees have been around. The devastating effect of any bush fire results in the loss of native flora and fauna which may take several years to regenerate. Fire is widely accepted throughout the country as being a valuable tool in the management of natural vegetation, agriculture including livestock production and in other land use systems. In the past and even in some instances today hunters, herders, farmers and cigarette smokers are the primary recipients of blame for uncontrolled and indiscriminate bush burning.

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