COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR REHABILITATION OF TREE

SPECIES ON NJALA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, SIERRA LEONE AFTER INTERNAL WAR

SUBMITTED TO

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for Grant

BY

B. O. AGBEJA

(Ph.D. Forest Policy, Economics and Law)

Department of Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria)
on

A Year Sabbatical Leave at Njala University, Sierra Leone

APRIL, 2009

ABSTRACT

Njala University, Sierra Leone has since 1960s been a citadel of learning with enabling environment for the expansion of frontier of
knowledge in West Africa. In the 1990s, Sierra Leone all of a sudden had internal war that ravaged the Njala University campus and
the war devastated the beautiful campus to the extent that the green environment that provided the aesthetic for learning was virtually
eroded. Little or no information was provided on the detail of tree species that were planted on the campus in 1960s. Therefore, the
study will assess the community perceptions on Socio-economic incentives for rehabilitation of tree species on Njala University
Campus, Sierra Leone after internal war with a view to enhancing green landscape and ensuring an enabling environment.

The study design will be socio-economic and observational in nature. Sample frame for the study will involve field survey which
entails detailed appraisal of the objectives. The specific objectives are to determine the role of tree species on Njala University
Campus; establish the impact of illegal destruction of various tree species on Njala Campus; identify various tree species destroyed
during and after war on Njala University Campus; and investigate the socio-economic incentives that can enhance the rehabilitation
of trees on Njala University Campus. Data will be collected through the use of structured questionnaire and interview schedule from
relevant stakeholders in the study location.

The exercise will be carried out on the campus of Njala University, Sierra Leone between April and September 2009. A total of eighty
questionnaire booklets will be administered to Njala University community stakeholders. Simple random sampling will be used to
collect the primary data. The respondents will be stratified into four categories of social class. Category A comprises Academic Staff,
Category B comprises Non- Academic Staff, Category C comprises Students and Category D comprises Artisans on campus. Twenty
questionnaire booklets will be distributed to each category of social class using Diaw et al. method (2002). Secondary data will be
extracted from journals, textbooks and annual report.

Descriptive and inferential statistical tools will be used for the analysis of the data collected for the study. Findings of the study will
be published in reputable journals and workshop.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0. INTRODUCTION

All over the world, tree species are potentially capable of producing a multitude of goods and services.
Literature is replete with overwhelming evidence of the significance of tree species to human existence. Diouf
(1997) asserted that forest trees are the most important terrestrial gene banks on Earth. Forests are nature’s
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bountiful and versatile renewable resources and are an integral part of the environment in which we live. In the
same vein, Agbeja and Adesoye (2003) asserted that a stand of tree species is recognised as invaluable biotic
component of ecosystem that has positive impact on the environment as well as providing economic and social
benefits. Amongst the special features that various tree species offer perhaps the most distinct would be the
multitude of benefits available from them. There is hardly any other terrestrial ecosystem or natural resource
that can be characterized as being as suitable for such a broad range of uses, or providing such a large variety of
different goods and services. Among the various forms of vegetation, trees tend to be the most sophisticated and
strongest in influencing landscape protection (Eckmulleret al. 1984). This assertion was corroborated by
Oguntala (1993) with a remark that without trees, cities are hotter and drier, the air pollution is worse, the wind
stronger, the flood danger and erosion more serious, the dust more damaging and people less comfortable and
less healthy.

Sierra Leone has a population of 5 million people with an annual growth rate of more than 2% (National
Population Census, 2004). It is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income
distribution. Civil war accompanied by accelerated deforestation of the natural forest areas and the greater
participation in market economy by forest dependent communities are clear signs of important transition in
man-forest relationship. The relationship between man and forests has always changed with socio-economic
development, and will certainly continue to change.

The total forest area in Sierra Leone is 2,754,000 ha (39% of total land area). However, the change in forest
cover between 1990 and 2000 indicated that Sierra Leone lost an average of 19,300 hectares of forest per year.
This amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 1%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change
increased by 7% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Sierra Leone lost 10% of its forest cover, or
around 290,000 hectares. Measuring the total rate of habitat conversion (defined as change in forest area plus
change in woodland area minus net plantation expansion) for the 1990 to 2005 intervals, Sierra Leone lost 18%
of its forest and woodland habitat. This is also corroborated by FAO (2001) that the forest resource base in most
countries in West Africa has dwindled. For example, the area change of the total forest cover in West Africa
between 1990 and 2000 was -1,351,000 ha/year.

Njala University Campus, Sierra Leone is very unique in landscape terms. However, during and after the war,
various tree species within and around the campus were illegally destroyed and harvested by irate people. A
newly established school of Forestry and Horticulture however, would go a long way if availed an opportunity
in charting development strategies for advocating environmentally, economically and socially sustainable
environment management practices.

In view of the vital role of trees therefore, this study takes a critical look at the socio-economic perceptions on
rehabilitation of various tree species on Njala University Campus after war with a view to enhancing green
landscape and ensuring an enabling environment.

1.1. Statement of Problem

Since the establishment of Njala University Campus, Sierra Leone, different kind of tree species have been
providing a multitude of goods and services for mankind. However, war is very inevitable where internal strife
is high and where compromises among interest groups are not reachedon time to settle differences may affect
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the robustness of environment.Importance of various tree species is unfortunately not disseminated to people
where such trees are in abundance. They believe what God provides would be replenished if utilized or
destroyed. Little or no information on the importance of tree species, perhaps, is a serious problem militating
against people who do not have a full grasp of the role of trees in our environment.

The effect of war could be grievous on natural resources because such endowment could be destroyed or be
used as trade by barter for exchange of ammunitions by irate people or opposition groups to make a country
ungovernable. Various tree species perhaps, may be unwittingly destroyed or illegally harvested during the war
without envisaging its impacts after the war. The negative action of the war is inadvertently obscured from the
citizen on the effect of destruction of various endemic tree species which could not be replenished back for
heritage of the concerned country or region.

It is impossible to maintain up-to-date records; hence, it is inimical to progress. In a situation where the civil
service reform allows the appointment of top government official from outside the civil service and the
departure or exit of such official with appointing government, there is instability in the record of the
administration of the country.

From time immemorial, Njala University campus might have had or maintained up-to-date records on tree
species, their families and names of authorities for their scientific/botanical names. If records are not kept, it
could be a disadvantage which may hinder important information on predominant tree species endemic on Njala
campus during and after war. Lack of identification of these tree species are counterproductive to learning and
documentation which in turn would deny generations yet unborn to know and see different economic tree
species located on Njala Campus.

The consequence of any war is retrogression. However, if investigation is not carried out to study and analyse
relevant socio-economic incentives that would enhance the rehabilitation of Njala University Campus greenery
and to create conducive environment, the expansion of frontier of knowledge may decrease. The purpose of
stimulating and contributing the rightful quota of Njala University Campus to Sierra Leone populace would be
hindered.

1.2. Main Objective

The main objective is to carry out community perceptions on Socio-economic incentives for Rehabilitation of
tree species on Njala Campus, Sierra Leone with a view to enhancing green landscape and conducive
environment.

1.2.1. Specific Objectives

i. To determine the role of tree species on Njala University Campus

ii. To establish the impact of illegal destruction of various tree species on Njala Campus

iii. To identify various tree species destroyed during and after war on Njala University Campus

iv. To investigate the socio-economic incentives that can enhance the rehabilitation of trees on
Njala University Campus
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1.3. Justification

Beneficiaries of the project

- Sierra Leone Government

- Njala University Campus

- Mokonde district

- Stakeholders

CHAPTER TWO

2.0. Literature Review

The following sub-sections are the main areas I concentrated the Literature review on:
2.1. Central Role of Tree Species to society

2.2. Effects of war to renewable natural resources and examples of countries with history of war

2.3. Illegal Destruction of Tree Species and their consequences

2.4. Various tree species, family, general and authorities

2.5. Socio-economic concept of rehabilitation

CHAPTER THREE

Methodology

Study Area

Sierra Leone is a small country located on the West coast of Africa and lies between Latitude 6 0 001 and 100 001
North and Longitude 100 161 and 130 181 West. The country has a North-South distance of 331 km 2. It is
bounded on the West by Atlantic Ocean, where it stretches along the coastline for approximately 400 km. It is
also bounded on the North and North-East by Guinea and by Liberia on the South-East. The country is divided
into four administrative regions: Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western.

Njala University College was established in 1964 and became an autonomous university in 2005. It is located in
Moyamba district of the Southern region which lies between Latitude 8 0 81 011 North and Longitude 120 531 011
West. The climate is essentially tropical, showing distinct dry and rainy seasons. Rainfall is the most important
climate element in Sierra Leone. It varies both in space and time. Mean annual variability is about 20%. The
rainfall pattern is unimodal with most of rain falling between late April and early November. July and August
are the wettest months in most areas. Diurnal temperatures vary from 25 0C to 34 0C; although, they could be as
low as 16 0C at night during the harmattan. Relative humidity is usually about 90% but drops to about 20%
4
during harmattan. Normal wind speed throughout the year averages 8 knots. Sunshine varies substantially with
amount of cloudiness averaging 6 to 8 hours per day during the dry season and 2 to 4 hours per day during the
raining period. The land area of the University is over 1,800 hectares while the population of Njala University
community is over 4,000. Currently, there are two schools resident on Njala campus. They are school of
Agriculture and school of Forestry and Horticulture. The school of Agriculture has eight academic departments
namely Crop Science, Crop Protection, Soil Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural
Marketing, Home Science and Institute of Home Economics. The School of Forestry and Horticulture on the
other hand has five academic departments namely Forestry, Wood Science, Horticulture, Aquaculture and
Fisheries and Wildlife Management, Ecotourism and Biodiversity Conservation.

Methods of Data Collection

Study Design

The study design employed will be observational and socio-economic in nature. Sample frame for the study will
involve field survey which entails detailed appraisal of the objectives. These objectives will be carried out
through the use of sructured questionnaire and interview schedule to collect data from relevant stakeholders in
the study location. The exercise will be carried out on the campus of Njala University, Sierra Leone between
April and September 2009. A total of eighty questionnaire booklets will be administered to Njala University
community stakeholders. Simple random sampling will be used to collect the primary data. The respondents
will be stratified into four categories of social class. Category A comprises Academic Staff, Category B
comprises Non- Academic Staff, Category C comprises Students and Category D comprises Artisans on
campus. Twenty questionnaires will be distributed to each category of social class using Diaw et al. method
(2002). Secondary data will be extracted from journals, textbooks and annual report.

Data Analysis

The socio-economic survey data will be subjected to both descriptive and inferential analyses. Simple
percentage and Logistic regression will be used for the analysis of results.

Logistic Models

The binary logistic models are very useful in situations where the dependent or response variable is binary in
nature. This implies that they can have only two possible values. The models therefore, describe the relationship
between one or more continuous independent variable(s) to the binary dependent variable. The two common
binary models are the logit and probit. The logistic model is particularly preferred because of the unique
information it provides. Distinct information provided by logit is the odds ratio. It is defined as the ratio of the
odds of an event occurring in the group to the odds ratio of it occurring in another group (Deeks, 1996; Bland
and Altman, 2000). Logit also provides information on the consequences of one variable on the other. The
model clearly will indicate the variable(s) that mostly affect the rehabilitation of trees on Njala Campus. The
logit of a response p between 0 and 1 is given as:

Logit (p) = log (p/1-p) = log (p) –log (1-p)

The simplest form of logit model is expressed as:

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Logit (pi) = a + bxi……………………………………………………………………1

Where,

xi = vector of predictor or independent variables

pi = probability of an effect of social-economic incentives that enhances rehabilitation of trees

on Njala Campus.

a and b = regression parameters.

In binary models, the two possible results will be assigned values of 1 or 0. Therefore, in this study, respondent
that says ‘yes’ to a factor that enhances rehabilitation is assigned a value of 1 and respondent that says ‘no’ to a
factor that enhances rehabilitation is assigned a value of 0. The parameter estimation for this study will be done
using Quasi-Newton method under logistic regression (logit) option of STATISTICA version 5 Software.
Models will be obtained by fitting all the independent variables together and backward elimination will be done
to obtain the best subset model. Emphasis will be placed on keeping the model as simple as possible and
selecting combinations of independent variables which make practical sense.

Objective i: To determine the role of tree species on Njala University Campus

This will be realized using simple percentages.

Objective ii: To establish the impact of illegal destruction of various tree species on Njala Campus

This will be realized using simple percentages.

Objective iii: To identify various tree species destroyed during and after war on Njala University Campus.

This will be realized using West African Taxonomy Textbook for various tree species families’ identification,
authorities, etc. Plates will also be used for veracity of claims.

Objective iv: To investigate the socio-economic incentives that can enhance the rehabilitation of trees on Njala
University Campus.

This will be realized using Logistic models on socio-economic incentives for rehabilitation of trees on Njala
Campus.

Expected Outputs

i. Role of tree species on Njala University Campus determined

ii. Impact of illegal destruction of various tree species on Njala Campus established

iii. Various tree species destroyed during and after war on Njala University Campus identified.

iv. Socio-economic incentives that can enhance the rehabilitation of trees on Njala University Campus
investigated

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 Logical Frame Work for Community Perceptions on Socio-Economic Incentives for Rehabilitation of Tree
Species on Njala University Campus, Sierra Leone after War.

4 x4 Project Narrative Objectively Verifiable Means of Verification Assumptions/Risks

Matrix
Goal Enhancement of green
landscape and enabling
environment for teaching
and research
Indicators
Rehabilitation of tree species
will be implemented and
successful in the next two years
Annual Njala University Willingness of all
Campus Tree Management stakeholders to participate
Committee Report and in Rehabilitation
Evaluation

Purpose To increase the frontier of
knowledge
Expected i. Importance of tree
Output species determined
ii. Impact of illegal
destruction of tree species
ascertained
iii. Various tree species
destroyed during and after
war identified
iv. Socio-economic
incentives for enhancing
the rehabilitation of trees
on Njala University
Campus investigated
Four article and one workshop Reputable Scientific No hinderance to
in attendance of 40 stakeholders Journal and workshop implementation of project
in the 6th Months of the project proceedings activities
execution
i. One Scientific article on Tree i. Scientific Journal i.. No hindrance to
Species between 1st and 2ndd literature, textbooks, etc.
months
ii. One scientific article on ii. Scientific Journal ii. Sincerity of
illegal destruction of trees in 3rd stakeholders to provide
month of the project information
implementation
iii. One scientific article on iii. Scientific Journal iii. Acceptance of
various tree species destroyed information
during and after the war
4thmonth of the project
implementation
iv. One scientific article on iv. Scientific Journal iv. Provision of fund for
socio-economic incentives for rehabilitation
rehabilitation of trees on Njala
University Campus in the 5th
month of the project
implementation.

v. One workshop for v. Manual/Workshop v. Provision of fund for

Activities i. Determination of the
role of tree species on
Njala University Campus
ii. Establishment of the
impact of illegal
destruction of various tree
species on Njala Campus
iii. Identification of
various tree species
destroyed during and after
war on Njala University
Campus
iv. Investigation of the
socio-economic incentives
that can enhance the
rehabilitation of trees on
Njala University Campus
stakeholders in the 6th months of proceedings dissemination of
the project implementation information
i. Meeting schedule with all i. Progress report i. Availability of fund
stakeholders and administration
of questionnaire to 80 selected
stakeholders between 1st and 2nd
months ii. Progress report ii. Availability of fund
ii. Meeting schedule with all
stakeholders and administration
of questionnaire to 80 selected
stakeholders in the 3rd month iii. Progress report iii. Availability of fund
iii. Meeting schedule with all
stakeholders and administration
of structured questionnaire to iv. Progress report iv. Availability of fund
80 selected stakeholders in 4th
month.
iv. Meeting schedule with all
stakeholders and administration
of structured questionnaire to
80 selected stakeholders in 5th
month

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Budget

N.B. When we get chance to do a workshop, this aspect will be carried out because one needs to justify the use
of money allocated to different equipment, tools, local transport, books, experiment, etc.

Workplan

N.B. This involves milestone of activities. Ditto for above Budget in the immediate future.

References

Agbeja, B.O. and Adesoye, P.O. (2003): Community Perceptions on Added Values and Conservation of Trees in the
University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Arboricultural Journal,Vol. 27, 117-138.

Bland, J.M. and Altman, D.G. (2000): The odds ratio. British Medical Journal, 320 (7247), 1468.

Bruhn, J.N., Pickens, J.B. and Stanfield, D.B. (1991): Probit Analysis of Oak with Trasmission through root grafts in red
oak stands. Forest Science, Vol. 37(1), 28-44.

Davies, H.T.O., Crombie, I.K. and Tavakoli, M. (1998): When can odds ratios mislead? British Medical Journal, 316,
989-991.

Deeks, J. (1996): Swots corner: what is an odds ratio? Bandolier, 3 (3), Issue 25, 6-7.

Diouf, J. (1997): Forests for Sustainable Development: Towards the 21 st Century. A Speech Presented at the XI World
Forestry Congress. Antalya, Turkey Proceedings, Vol. 7.

Eckmullner, O. and Madas, A. (1984):The Production Functions. In: Fred C. Hummel (ed.) Forest Policy: A
Contribution to Resource Development. MartinusNjohff/Dr W. Junk Publishers. The Hague, Netherlands, 161-212.

FAO (2001): Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000. Main ReportFAO Forestry Paper,

140, 115-124.

National Population Census (2004): National Population Census for Sierra Leone in 2004. www.statistics-sierra-
leone.org/population_and_housing_censuses.htm.

Oguntala, A.B. (1993): Forestry for Urban and Rural Development in Nigeria with particular reference to urban
environments. In: Oduwaiye, E.A. (ed.) Proceedings of Annual Conference of Forestry Association of Nigeria, 1-10.