Journal of Forests

Assessment of non-timber forest products utilization in Kwabaktina forest reserve, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Sambe Leoskali Nguuma — 2025-01-31

This study assessed non-timber forest products utilization in Kwabaktina Forest Reserve, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires, field observations, personal interviews, and focused group discussions. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The majority (54.6%) of the respondents were female, and most were youths (44.3%) between the ages of 18 to 40 years. A greater proportion (63.3%) were married individuals with a low level of education in the study area. The findings revealed that most of the respondents (72.25%) belonged to the household size category of 1-10 and were low-income earners. The findings also identified some available NTFPs in the study area, which include Borassus fruit, Borassus bark, honey, moringa seed, leaves, bush meat, caterpillars, crickets, and Borassus hypocotyls. Hypocotyls were the most preferred NTFPs utilized by the people. The results revealed that NTFPs were utilized to a very high extent due to the high economic value of the products. Gender played a significant role in the utilization of NTFPs, while age, educational status, and household size significantly determined the utilization of NTFPs in the study area. The results also showed no significant difference in the extent to which people utilized NTFPs. The study found that non-timber forest products (NTFPs) provided significant food, employment, income, and livelihood sources in the study areas. The study recommends prioritizing financial and technical support for alternative income-generating ventures, stakeholder involvement in forest resource planning, and economic evaluations of NTFP utilization to optimize their benefits.

Urban forestry for sustainable urban management: A study from Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City, Nepal

Pramod Ghimire — 2025-01-31

Developing sustainable urban areas in such a way that every citizens can enjoy a high quality of life and environment is one of the pressing environmental challenges we face today. This study was conducted to identify the major urban tree species and people’s perceptions towards urban forestry for sustainable urban development in Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City, Nepal. Mixed method of field assessment and questionnaire survey with urban households (N=125) was used to collect information regarding urban forestry by applying simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive and Likert scale rating through SPSS. The results showed that 46 different tree species were recorded in the study area with most frequent being Saraca asoca, Mangifera indica and Ficus religiosa. Based on local people’s preference Sparaco asoca, Nyctanthes arbortristis, and Thusa spp. are top 3 species for urban plantation. People opined that management of urban forest is not so good and they responded that poor management of roadside trees is due to lack of people participation with weighted mean value of 2.10. More than 90% of the respondents agreed that urban trees are essential for sustainable urban planning. Furthermore, rapid urbanization, lack of public awareness, and limited institutional support are major challenges while community engagement, ecological resilience, and government initiatives and policies are major opportunities for urban forestry development in the city. Therefore, appropriate selection of tree species, community participation and awareness regarding urban forestry should be emphasized. Furthermore, urban forestry program requires its prioritization and integration in the local and national policies.

Understanding management practices and user’s perspective on sustainable forest management in Nepal

Pramod Ghimire — 2025-02-05

Sustainable forest management (SFM) plays a critical role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting livelihoods, and mitigating climate change. This study was conducted to explore the management practices and user perspectives regarding sustainable forest management in Nepal, focusing on community forestry and government-led initiatives. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. A total of 180 user’s opinion were collected in 9 selected forest user groups from four district of Nepal (i.e. Ilam, Jhapa, Sarlahi, and Makawanpur). The study revealed that major forest management practices applied by community users’ are thinning, pruning, and improvement felling. Majority of the users (70.56%) were unsure about the forest management practices prescribed in the Operational plans (OPs). Accordingly, most users (92.78%) were agreed with the opinions that they need to be trained about forest management practices and its implementation. Majority of the users (92.00%) also agreed that participatory forest management modalities like Community Forest (CF), Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) and Leasehold Forest (LHF) area protecting biodiversity and reducing environmental risks. However, people believe that arbitrary policy changes was the main challenges for proper implementation of sustainable forest management practices. Therefore, strengthening capacity-building programs, enhancing government support, developing a consistent guideline, and promoting adaptive management practices are essential for improving sustainable forest resource management in Nepal.

Global perspectives on forest fire protection and biodiversity conservation strategies in the agricultural circular economy

Ioannis Adamopoulos — 2025-03-20

Combining engineering and ecological protection offers a viable solution to prevent forest fires caused by land-use changes. The agricultural circular economy enhances sustainability by integrating ecological functions with services, fostering a balance between human intervention and natural processes. While non-intervention strategies are often favored for biodiversity preservation, this study highlights the critical role of wildfires—both naturally occurring and prescribed—in shaping resilient forest ecosystems. Through a comprehensive scoping review, this research explores the intricate relationship between forest wildfire protection and biodiversity conservation strategies, synthesizing diverse scholarly perspectives and methodologies. The agricultural circular economy leverages organic farming, diversified plant systems, and the reclamation of abandoned agricultural land to mitigate fire risks. This approach prioritizes societal vitality and sustainability by addressing uncertain risks, poor management, and fair carbon pricing. Utilizing bioproducts and agricultural biomass waste fosters connected ecological loops and enhances global land-use strategies. Integrating scientific insights with Indigenous fire stewardship emerges as a transformative strategy for promoting biodiversity conservation amidst the climate crisis. This study underscores the need to re-evaluate fire management practices and incorporate the agricultural circular economy into international policies to ensure sustainable and resilient forest ecosystems. Governments are urged to enforce these strategies effectively for environmental and societal benefits.