INCREASING RATE OF FOREST FIRES AROUND BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA; IMPLICATIONS ON ECOSYTEM HEALTH

Abstract

Forest fires are not new, but the frequency has been on the increase recently. This paper sets out
to appraise the reason for the recent increase in incidences of forest fires, and to explore existing
indigenous knowledge on forest fires. The semi-structured interviews involved 50 participants that
were chosen through a Convenient sampling method. The interviews centred around; Why the
increase in the incidence of forest fires? What is the purpose behind it? Are the people aware of the
effect of fire on the ecology? What are the benefits? What are the disbenefits? Are there damages
incurred as a result of forest fires? Chief among the benefits of forest fires that was mentioned
included improvement to agricultural production. The disbenefits included smoky atmosphere,
destruction of ecosystems, dusts as a result of ash particles, impure air, dirt being blown into houses,
and loss to adjoining farms where fire was not originally intended. This research has pointed out
that apart from effects to physical, chemical and biological components of the ecosystem, which
have been illustrated in literatures that can be both positive and negative, there are obvious social
disbenefits. It is essential to implement sustainable land management practices, conserve soil
resources, and promote ecosystem resilience. By integrating scientific knowledge, traditional
wisdom, and stakeholder engagement, it is possible to develop holistic approaches for mitigating
the impacts of bush burning on soil properties and fostering sustainable land use systems in the
future.