Reviving Nature: Strategies for Ecosystem Restoration in a Deteriorated Southwestern Nigeria's Forest Reserve

Abstract- Forests are always depleted by human activities. The study focused on the deterioration of the Ikeji-ipetu forest reserve, Osun State. Concurrent methods of data collection were used in this study. Sampled plots of 10 m×10 m was delineated in the forest reserve, the woody species were identified, and the woody tree variables such as height and circumference were measured using an altimeter. The woody tree species were classified into different categories using the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). The qualitative method employed was focus group discussion sessions of five elderly people between 45 years and above from one of the communities nearest to the Forest Reserve. The secondary data included a map on a scale of 1:50,000 and satellite imageries ArcGIS 10.1 of 1986 to 2016 of the study area. The study revealed the most abundant woody species was Gmelina arborea (29.9%). The Landsat TM of 1986 showed that the undisturbed land was 88% and that of 2016 (74.86%) with a difference of (13.14%). The average nitrogen value was 22.75 mg/l in forest land and 13.66 mg/l in cultivated land. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content -analysis. A re-afforestation scheme was such as forest regrowth, and regeneration, sustainable resources management practices, and implementation of policies and regulations against illegal logging were some of the few restoration strategies suggested.

Ecosystem restoration, Forest reserve management, Environmental conservation, Sustainable development, Biodiversity preservation

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