ASSESSMENT OF COMMMONLY USED TREES FOR CHARCOAL PRODUCTION AND THEIR ABUNDANCE IN MAKURDI, BENUE STATE

Charcoal is a solid residue consisting mainly of carbon obtained by the destructive distillation of wood in the absence of air. The aim of this study was to survey the effects of charcoal production on the availability of some economic trees in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue state. A total of 150 questionnaires were administered to some residents of Tse Adaka, Tse Mtume, Tse Angbande, Tse Angur, Tse Anshimbe in Makurdi Local Government. Findings from the study revealed that, African Locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), wild syringa (Burkea Africana), Gmelina (Gmelina arborea), Mango (Mangnifera indica), Iron wood (Prosopis Africana), Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) were some of the trees used in the area. A total of 329 trees were identified from the study locations. Iron wood (Prosopis Africana) trees were identified as the highest number of trees 59 (18.0%) used for charcoal production while neem tree was the least tree used for the same purpose. A higher number of trees 76 (23.1%) used for charcoal production were identified in Tse Adaka villages while the least number of trees 51 (15.5%) were identified from Tse Anshugbe village. On the reasons why people engage in charcoal majority of the respondents 140 (93.3%) reported that it was a family business, while a fewer number of them 60 (40.0%) reported that they engage in charcoal production because it requires less labour. On the effects of charcoal production in the study area, deforestation 142 (94.7%) was reported as the major effect while, 83 (55.3%) of the respondents reported that exposure of lands to water and wind erosion. The study identified some common woods used for charcoal production in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. Hence, the studied villages should engage in replanting of trees which have been cut down for charcoal production.