Meaning of Forest Resource
Forest resource refers to the materials derived from the forest that provide direct benefits for man and industries. On the other hand forest resources are the animals, wood, herbs, and other materials concentrated in the forest that are of economic interest to man.
Examples of forest resources that are of economic importance to society are wild animals, wild fruits, resins, fibers, fodder, fish, edible insects, snails, chewing sticks, rope, wood for charcoal, poles, palm fruit, firewood, timber, mushroom, honey, water, medicinal plant, and vegetable.
Forest ecosystems have numerous resources that benefit the environment and humans. Millions of people depend on the Forests for food, water, wood, and herbs on a daily basis which serve as a means of sustainable livelihoods. The resources in the forest are numerous and of significant importance to man or for commercial use.
Additionally, man’s inherited quest for these forest resources has led to the outbreak of deforestation, bush burning, poaching, and lumbering which leads to the depletion and extinction of these resources.
The forest ecosystem is full of biodiversity that reasonably has prospects for economic extraction hence these resources are preserved or conserved in many countries by the promulgation of laws to prohibit the export and unauthorized movement of people from accessing the forest and harvesting forest products
List of Forest Resources
Forest resources are significant to man, industries, and the environment. Some forest resources that of economic uses are enumerated below.
- Tree
- Wild meat
- Fish
- Edible insect
- Snail
- Chewing stick
- Rope
- Wood for charcoal
- Sap, Resin, and gum Arabic
- Palm fruit
- Firewood
- Timber
- Mushroom
- Honey
- Fodder
- Water
- Medicinal plant
- Fruit
- vegetable
- Wild meat and fish
General Uses of Forest Resources.
The forests have a wide range of benefits that are significant to man, and its environment. Some of the uses of the forest resources are stated below.
- Paper Production: Softwoods such as pine tree (Pinus spp), fir (Abies spp,) spruce (Picea spp) as well as strong wood trees, such as birch, aspen, eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), acacia (Acacia murrayana), and oak are important Pulpwood harvested and processed into the forms that it can be used in the industries for making books, tissue paper, drawing paper, paper ceilings, ply boards, and types of paper-based product.
- Construction Purpose: strong wood such, acacia (Acacia murrayana), oak, mahogany, and teak are important sources of timber used in the construction of local bridges, roofing, fencing, and wood building.
- Making of Furniture: furniture such as chairs, tables, cardboard, and other household furniture can be constructed from timber sourced from the forests.
- Source of Fruit: Wild fruit such as Piper guineense, Dennettia, trepetala, Canarium schweinfurthii, Decryodes edulis, Irvingia gabonensis, Treculia Africana, and other cultivated fruits dispersed by humans or animals that have germinated and grow to a fruiting height that can be a source of the food. These fruits serve as essential minerals that the body requires to boost immunity and fight infections. Fruits such as Irvingia gabonensis, Mangifera indica, and Garcinia kola can be used as a source of income for individuals who engage in searching for fruits in the forest.
- Source of Leaves Soup Making: leaves from forest trees such as Gnetum spp, utazi’ leaves (Gongronema latifolium), ujuju leaves. ( Myrianthus arboreus), clove basil leaves, ( Ocimum gratissimum), Ashanti pepper or hot leaves (Piper guineense), oha ( Pterocarpus mildbraedii), Pterocarpus santalinoides leaves, Pterocarpus soyauxii eaves and Talinum trangulare are source from the forest and are used for cooking soup. Thousands of households in Nigeria and other West African countries depend on these leaves for food due to the abundance of nutrients and medicinal properties that they entail.
- Sap, Resin, and gum Arabic: The bark of forest trees exude important liquids such as sap, and resin which are needed in the industries for manufacturing different types of industrial and pharmaceutical products. The sap from some forest trees ( e.g hevea brazinlinesis) is needed in the plastic industries for the manufacturing of plastic products, while liquid from other plants is used for the production of syrups, and medicine. Resin extracted from the forest tree is a vital ingredient in the production of varnish and glazes. Additionally, gum Arabic is a necessary ingredient used in the printing, painting, gluing, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Sap produced from economic trees in the forest is used in the manufacturing industries for plastic, syrups, and medicine.
- Herbs: The forest is a home for many herbs, these herbs are vital in the pharmaceutical industries and for local treatment. A lot of trado-medical drugs are sourced from the forest. The bark, leaves, and trunk of some herbs are used for the treatment of many ailments. These herbs contain many healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Charcoal and Wood: In developing countries wood and charcoal are sourced from the forest and are used for making food. Charcoal is derived from wood that is controlled burn, and can be used to provide heat for local fabricated companies.
- Animals: wild animals such as Duikers (Cephalophus monticola, C. Grimmia), Bush Buck (Tragelaphus scriptus), Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Squirrels Funisciurus anerythrus, Xerus erythropus), Cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus), African giant rat (Crycetomys gambianus), Porcupine (Hystrix cristata), Bats (Eidolon helvum), Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), Francolin (Francolinus spp.), Monitor Lizard (Varanus niloticus), Tortoise (Kinixys belliana), and Giant snail (Archachatina marginata). These wild animals can be sourced from the forest and are used as a source of meat for food making. They supply the necessary minerals and calcium that the body requires for good functioning.
- Honey: Forest trees serve as a home for wild bees to dwell, and reproduce. Bees search for hollow trees and ant hills in the forest to dwell and produce honey. Honey products such as wax, propolis, and jelly are vital products in the industries that are harvested from the forest and are used in industries for the production of many products of economic uses.
Forest Resources and their uses
| S/no | Forest Resources | Uses |
| 1 | Tree | Use for making food, cold liver oil, and medicines. |
| 2 | Wild animals | Use for erecting electric poles, local fencing, and construction of bridges and local buildings |
| 3 | Fish | Source of food for man and animals such as catfish |
| 4 | Edible insect | Use for teeth cleaning and toothpick |
| 5 | Snail | Food making, concrete |
| 6 | Chewing stick | Use for making food, cold liver oil and, medicines |
| 7 | Rope | Use for tying objects |
| 8 | Charcoal | Source of fuel for food and blacksmith |
| 9 | Sap, Resin, and gum Arabic | Processed into oil for making food, soap, and other industrial products |
| 10 | Palm fruit | Use for furniture making, roofing, and other household materials |
| 11 | Firewood | Source of fuel for cooking, baking |
| 12 | Timber | Use as a food additive, |
| 13 | Mushroom | Use for making food |
| 14 | Honey | Use as a food additive, |
| 15 | Fodder | Use for feeding farm animals |
| 16 | Water | Source for drinking during and after food. |
| 17 | Herbs | Source of medicinal for man and industries |
| 18 | Fruit | Source of food for man and animals |
| 19 | vegetable | Use for making food |
| 20 | Raffia palm | Use making palm wine, thatches, and basket |