Exploring Species Extraction Volume and Residues of Illegal and Conventional Logging Operations

Abstract

Governments, policymakers, at most public fora, condemn activities of chainsaw operations as illegal and in fact, it has been criminalized with an explanation that it is wasteful and destructive to the environment. The study compared species, diameter distribution, extracted, volume, and residues generated during conventional and illegal logging operations in the forest communities. Using quantitative design approach, the researchers estimated the volume of waste generated by illegal logging and that of conventional loggers and also identified the species targeted.  In order to determine the diameter distribution of exploited species, and the recovery rate of logs in both reserves, the researchers measured both ends, diameter, and length of stump wood and merchantable branch wood left as waste using the smallian's formula. The total volume of logs utilized per tree (logvol) was then calculated as the sum of the volume of each log. Twenty-five commercial timber species were identified to have been felled on farmlands compared to 34 commercial species which were felled in the TBFR. On both the farmlands and in the TBFR, the number of species felled by chainsaw operators far exceeded those felled by the conventional loggers. On farmlands, only four (17%) out of the 25 timber species were felled by conventional loggers. The most dominant timber species felled by the conventional loggers on farmlands was ceiba which comprised more than half (53%) of the total trees felled, followed by yaya (32%), watapuo (Cola gigantea), and akasaa (Chrysophyllum albidum). The study concluded that not only do chainsaw operators target a variety of lumber species but they also exploit timber species that are near extinction, therefore, making their activities pose danger to species diversity and conservation. The study proposed that strengthening the policy regime on compensation payment could help reduce the Incidence of illegal logging.