Exploring the
Adaptation of
Conifers on
Mambilla
Plateau
Gabriel Salako BS, PGDE, MPA, MS
Principal Lecturer – Nigeria
International Fellow - WFI
[email protected] or [email protected]
Presentation Outline
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WFI Research Objectives – Why I am here?
Welcome to Nigeria: brief introduction
Tour to Mambilla Plateau
Project discussion: Exploring the adaptation of
conifers on Mambilla Plateau
Research Objectives
Nigeria is in need of softwood plantation for pulp
and lumber.
Currently, only eucalyptus is grown on Mambilla
I came to WFI to learn about the possibility of using
PNW conifer species for growing in Nigeria.
My Goals:
• Identify conifers that are suitable for Mambilla
Plateau
• Develop a plan for sustainable conifer plantations
on the plateau
• Boost the economy of the plateau dwellers by
providing jobs and income
• Nigeria is in west
Africa.
•Mambilla plateau
is in north eastern
Nigeria.
Common trees in Nigeria’s rain forest
Mangrove in
Niger’s Delta
Mahogany
Famous
Iroko tree
in Ondo,
SW Nigeria
Timber products by volume
• Great investment
opportunity for under
utilized veneer and ply
wood products
Plywood
Veneer
Timber production
(000m3) Volume
Sawn
Logs
0
2000 4000
6000
8000
Forest ownership in Nigeria
Ownership
%
Government (reserves/parks)
20
Communally owned
60
Large private company
15
Small private
03
Recreations/Groves
02
• The 1978 land use decree of the federal government
technically vested the ownership of all land resources to state
government.
• In practice however, the land resources are mostly
controlled by the community through the traditional leader.
Source: FORMECU 1998. The assessment of vegetation and land use change in Nigeria between 1976/78 and1993/99
Welcome to Mambilla Plateau
(Taraba state NE Nigeria)
•4 distinct geographic
regions in Mambilla
•Maisamari
•Gembu
•Dorofi
•Nguroje
Geographic Data of Mambilla
http://www.lif.de/en/projects/details/project/91/
Deep valleys are characteristic on the plateau
• Latitude: 6.7138N
• Longitude: 11.2500E
• Average Alt: 1600m
(5000ft)
• Average annual
Temperature: 16˚c (61 F)
• Mean annual Rainfall:
1800mm (70 in)
• Vegetation: grasses,
shrubs, planted forests
and crops (eucalytpus,
apples, pears)
The Scenery on Mambilla
Hydro power dam project is being proposed on
the plateau on the Benue River.
Challenges of deforestation and
overgrazing on the plateau
Where are the Native trees?
Long time intense burning
and over grazing had
impacted negatively on
natural regeneration of
native trees
Eucalyptus as exotic species
currently constitute the major
planted forest
Research Questions
• What are the climatic, soil, and other growth
requirements of PNW conifers?
• Can Mambilla plateau be suitable to the survival and
growth of PNW conifer species?
• What are the challenges of introducing species into a
new habitat?
Steps involve in pre selection of
species
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Extensive literatures search
Field tour of trees farm within PNW
Timber /lumber value of specie (suitable for plantation)
Adaptive capacity
Interview of land owners and forest managers in PNW
Consultations with academic experts on the field
Visit to arboretum at wind river
Mambilla plateau ecological base line
What are the conifers to explore?
The following conifers falls within the ecological
criteria/environmental requirements of Mambilla
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Pinus patula (Mexican weeping pine)
Pinus radiata (Monterey pine)
Pinus caribaea (Caribbean pine)
Pinus taeda (Loblolly pine)
Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine)
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir)
Thuja plicata (Western red cedar)
SE species
PNW
Species
Methodology
• Mambilla site characteristics– data from
previous research
• Took PNW species data for three variables:
rainfall, temperature, geographic location
• Histogram frequencies and Climate Envelope
Models used to determine the native range
(ecological niche) of PNW conifers
• Comparisons/Matching with Mambilla data
Mambilla Plateau Site Characteristics
• Temperature: min 7 ˚- 10˚c, max
16˚ - 22˚c
• Mean annual temperature: 11˚ 17˚ C
• Minimum annual rainfall : >600mm
• Optimal growth rainfall: 800-2000
mm
• Soil ph value between 5 and 6
Eucalyptus plantations
thrive on the plateau
tradenote.net
Douglas fir ecological niche:
Temperature
• 75% of the native range of Douglas fir is
within a mean temperature of 12°C (53F)
Douglas fir ecological niche:
Rainfall
• Annual precipitation
less than 1000mm may
not be suitable for
Douglas fir.
• Optimum occurrence in
precipitation between
1200mm-1500mm
Douglas fir: Climate Envelope Model
• The blue rectangle represents
the ecological niche boundary
of Douglas fir
• Red points within the blue
rectangle are presence points
• Given the climate average in
Mambilla, Douglas fir
conceptually falls within its
ecological niche (the
environmental space a species occupies
under natural conditions (Puliam 2000)
Mambilla : MAT= 12 -16⁰ c
Annual precipitation =1600 – 1850mm
Western red cedar: Climate Envelope
Model
• Western red cedar will be
limited to a relatively
colder region on the
plateau where the annual
rainfall is ~ 1500mm
Mambilla : MAT= 12 -16⁰ c
Annual precipitation =1600 – 1850mm
Ponderosa pine ecological niche:
temperature
• Histogram frequency
• Ponderosa occurs
within a mean
temperature of about
16⁰c (60F)
Ponderosa pine ecological niche:
rainfall
• Rainfall histogram
frequency
• Relatively less rainfall is
required relative to
other species
Ponderosa pine: Climate Envelope
Model
• Ponderosa pine could
occur in relatively warm
areas, as long as the
rainfall is not in excess
of 1000mm
• On the Mambilla
plateau this species
could be grown in the
Nguroje site
Mambilla : MAT= 12 -16⁰ c
Annual precipitation =1600 – 1850mm
Loblolly pine ecological niche:
temperature
• Histogram frequency
• Up to 60% of loblolly
occur within a mean
annual temperature
of 17-18⁰c (62F)
Loblolly pine ecological niche: rainfall
• Histogram frequency
• 50% of the range of
loblolly are found
within regions having
up to 1500mm
annual rainfall
Loblolly pine: Climate Envelope Model
• The mean annual
temperature and the
annual rainfall variables
of loblolly are within
the range found on the
plateau
Mambilla : MAT= 12 -16⁰ c
Annual precipitation =1600 – 1850mm
Summary of species potential sites on
the Plateau
species
sites
remarks
Loblolly pine
Dorofi, Gembu
Relatively high mean
temperature and rainfall
Ponderosa pine
Nguroje
Cooler temperature
moderate rainfall
Douglas-fir
Dorofi, Maisamari
Similar soil, good rainfall
tolerable mean annual
temperature
Western red cedar
Maisamari
Heavy rainfall, tolerable
temperature
Other lessons learnt from PNW
• Douglas fir can re establishing itself in
area previously logged and burnt
• Potassium and phosphorus are essential
nutrients for Douglas fir and western red
cedar in the first 2 -3 years of growth and
ph value of 5-6 support optimal growth
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Lower soil temperature reduces nutrient
uptake in Douglas fir
• Source and quality of seedling are critical
factors
• Introduction of exotic pests and diseases
must be considered
Concluding notes
• Two sites (Dorofi and
Maisamari) have high
potential for the growth of
almost all the conifers
• Gembu sites is particularly
identified for Loblolly pine
• Further field trials and
experiments are required
before any full scale
operation begins
Acknowledgements
• World Forest Institute, Portland
(Director Sara Wu, Program MGR Chandalin
Bennett)
• Professor Mike Newton, OSU
• Professor Ron Nielson, OSU
• Starker Forests, Dorena Genetics Center, Anne
and Richard Hanschu, the WFI fellows and
others…