South-west region of Nigeria comprises states that are among the major timber
producing states in the country. However, this region of the country is
dominated with different forms of forest offenses. Despite this, there is lack of
information on the different forms of forest offenses as well as the economic
implication of such offenses in the region of the country. This study
investigated the different forms of forest offenses in six states of south-west of
Nigeria. The study sites were Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States.
The survey was carried out through evaluation of records on forest offenses
and corresponding fines charged for each of the offense for a period of 10 years
(2004 to 2013). An interview of forest stakeholders was also carried out as a
follow-up on factors responsible for the offenses. The group of respondents
interviewed during the survey includes forest officers, saw-millers, timber
contractors, and rural people living around selected forest reserves in each of
the states. Ogun State had the highest number of forest offenders. This was
followed by Osun, Ondo, and Oyo states, respectively. Illegal cutting of trees
ranked topmost of all the forest offenses and attracted the highest cumulative
fines of N3,395,350 (23.6%) for the 10 years under study. This was followed
by trafficking of unhammered logs which attracted cumulative fines of
N1,768.115 (12.3%) for the same period. Other forest offenses recorded
include illegal farming, flitching in the reserve, among others. The present
practice of accepting forestry as public venture is not ideal. A newly
reconstructed and restructured forest sector, built on the pillars of
accountability and transparency, would play a major role in economic growth
and sustainable development.