Forest and Forest Uses – JSS2 Agricultural Science Lesson Note (Third Term)

A forest is an ecological habitat where trees, animals and many other plants live together.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. name the two major types of vegetation in Nigeria and list the forest and savanna zones;
2. describe a forest and explain what forestry means;
3. name the two major components of forests;
4. list some timber species of economic value in Nigeria, with their common names;
5. list examples of forest animals (wildlife);
6. state the uses of forests and ways of conserving them.

What are the vegetation zones of Nigeria?

There are two major types of vegetation in Nigeria: the forest and the savanna.

What are the forest zones?

There are two forest zones in Nigeria: the mangrove and freshwater swamp forest, and the rain forest.

• Mangrove and freshwater swamp forests: found along the coast and in flooded river areas, with trees that grow in wet ground.
• Rain forest: found where rainfall is heavy, with tall trees growing close together.

What are the savanna zones?

There are five savanna zones in Nigeria: derived, Southern Guinea, Northern Guinea, Sudan and Sahel savanna.

• Derived savanna: grassland with scattered trees, formed where forest was cleared by farming and bush burning.
• Southern Guinea savanna: grass mixed with many trees.
• Northern Guinea savanna: more grass and fewer trees than the Southern Guinea savanna.
• Sudan savanna: short grasses with few scattered trees, in a drier area.
• Sahel savanna: the driest zone, in the far north, with short grass and thorny shrubs.

What is a forest?

A forest is a large area of land covered with groups of trees, together with the plants and animals that live among them.

• Trees: the main plants of the forest.
• Shrubs and herbs: smaller plants that grow beneath the trees.
• Lower plants and microscopic organisms: mosses, ferns, fungi and bacteria on the forest floor.
• Animals: antelope, grass cutter, elephant, hare and monkeys use the forest as their home.

What is forestry?

Forestry is the study and management of forests and forest resources.

• Simple meaning: the study and care of all the living organisms in the forest.
• Person who practises it: a forester.

What are forest resources (products)?

The two major components of forests are trees and wild animals (wildlife).

What are forest trees?

Forest trees are the tree species that grow widely in the forest and give timber.

• Location: forest reserves in Southern Nigeria contain most of the timber species of economic importance.
• Examples: mahogany, afara, iroko and idigbo, as well as planted trees such as teak and neem (dogoyaro).

The table below shows some timber species of economic value in Nigeria.

What are forest animals?

Forest animals are wild animals, usually called wildlife, and those hunted for food are called bush meat.

• Rabbits and hares: small animals that feed on plants.
• Rodents: grass cutters, squirrels, porcupines and giant rats.
• Pangolin: an animal covered with hard scales.
• Monkeys and apes: baboons, gorillas and chimpanzees.
• Ungulates: hoofed animals such as zebras, hippopotami, giraffes, buffalo, rhino and bush pigs.
• Carnivores: meat eaters such as mongoose, hyenas, lions and leopards.
• Elephants: the largest land animals.
• Reptiles: snakes, lizards, crocodiles and tortoise.
• Birds: eagles, vulture, cattle egret, guinea fowl and others.

What are the uses of forests?

Forests give people products for daily life and also protect the environment.

What are the economic uses of forests?

• Timber: wood for building houses, furniture, doors and bridges.
• Fuelwood: firewood and charcoal for cooking.
• Raw materials: wood for paper and plywood, and rubber latex, gums and resins.
• Food: fruits, nuts, honey, mushrooms and bush meat.
• Medicine: leaves, bark and roots used as herbal medicine.
• Other products: poles, chewing sticks, ropes, canes and fibres.
• Employment and income: work for loggers, sawmillers, hunters and traders, and earnings from exported timber.

What are the environmental uses of forests?

• Soil protection: tree roots hold the soil and reduce erosion.
• Soil fertility: fallen leaves rot and add humus to the soil.
• Windbreak and shade: trees reduce wind speed and give shade.
• Air and climate: trees give out oxygen, take in carbon dioxide and help rainfall.
• Habitat: forests shelter wildlife.
• Recreation: forest reserves and game reserves attract visitors.

How can forests be conserved?

Forest conservation is the careful use and protection of forests so that they last for future generations.

• Afforestation: planting trees on land that had no forest.
• Reforestation: replanting trees where forest has been cut down.
• Forest reserves: setting land aside by law to protect trees and wildlife.
• Controlled logging: cutting only mature trees and replacing those cut.
• Control of bush burning: preventing fires that destroy trees and young plants.

Evaluation

1. Name the two major types of vegetation in Nigeria and list the five savanna zones.
2. What is forestry?
3. What are the two major components of forests?
4. Give the common name of Chlorophora excelsa and of Terminalia superba.
5. State four uses of forests.

Assignment

1. (a) List five groups of forest animals and give one example of each. (b) Name three timber species from the table, with their common names and two states where each is found.