Abstract
This study was aimed at determining the factors that led to deforestation and its environmental consequences in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The objectives were to determine the causes of deforestation, its environmental consequences, assess the perception of residents towards forest resources conservation, and to find the degree of deforestation in the study area. A total of 300 respondents were selected as a sample size being a purposive study. Data were collected using questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. From the findings of the study it shows that various factors such as farming (24.5%), Logging (14.4%), fuel wood harvest (13.4%),Wildfire (9.5%), Overgrazing (8.1 %), Overpopulation (7.2%), Poverty (6.6 %), Government attitude towards conservation (5.5%), Infrastructure (5.2 %) , insurgency (3.3%) and Mining (2.3 %) led to the destruction of forest resources. The environmental consequences from these factors were loss of biodiversity (22.7), Environmental degradation (18.1 %), Flooding (16.4 %), Drought (13.1 %), Erosion (10.3 %) Climate change (7.4 %), Disease (6.3 %) and social consequence (5.0%). Majority of the respondents have shown deforestation is on the increase and majority (74.7 %) have shown positive attitude towards the conservation of forest resources and willing to support its conservation. The perpetual survival of the forest resources can only be achieved through the collaboration between the local communities and the local government authority. It was recommended that adequate policy and institutional framework should be put in place for the purpose of management and conservation of forest resource at the grassroots, provision of sustainable means of livelihood, enhancement of awareness on conservation education program on forest resources to the local communities and the state government should embark on massive afforestation program through its various agencies.
Key words: Deforestation, Environmental, Consequences, ForestIJCCAES Model Bode1 A. S
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