Deforestation in afforestation priority zone in Sudano-Sahelian Nigeria

Deforestation is a serious problem in Sudano-Sahelian Nigeria though afforestation is needed and appears to be a priority of government. Afforestation programme has failed primarily because of government's (in)actions that appear to pitch government policies against its practices, differences between what the grassroots want and what governmental bodies with responsibility for afforestation can provide, financial constraints that have hamstrung field operations and operators. Also, people do not believe that government is serious about afforestation. The causes of deforestation include lack of effective alternative energy options for majority of people, high profit margins in the fuelwood economy and recent energy policies of government. The tyranny of the energy market discourages use of environmental knowledge in household energy policy decisions. Many households using alternative energy prior to the present condition of enduring energy scarcity have reverted to the use of fuelwood causing reversed energy transition and increased rates of deforestation. Solutions to the deforestation problem must be anchored in programmes that improve socioeconomic security of the poor, enable them to procure alternative (non-biomass) energy and lighten pressure on forest resources dependence for energy. Framing of macro-economic policies should give consideration to their implications for the poor and the natural environment. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.