International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 1 Percieved socio-economic and environmental effects of wood fuel production and consumption in rural igabi local government area, kaduna state, Nigeria Babajo Hannatu 1 , Akilu Suleiman 2 1-2 Department of Geography, Federal College of Education, Zaria. Kaduna State, Nigeria Abstract Rural areas are the major producers and consumers of wood fuel in developing regions. Wood fuel as a source of energy plays a vital role in household energy requirements, due to increasing economic hardship in the country, many people are finding it increasingly difficult to afford conventional fuels in Nigeria. Wood fuel in Kaduna State is the most highly consumed fuel. Therefore creating awareness among people especially rural dwellers in Nigeria about the effects of fuel wood production and consumption is imperative. This study discusses the perceived socio-economic and environmental effects of wood fuel production and consumption in rural Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The data for this study was acquired from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was obtained through structured questionnaire survey. The respondents were selected from five rural areas of Igabi LGA. Purposive sampling method was used in administering the questionnaires. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that fuel wood production and consumption affects socio economic environment through occurrence of drought, erosion, rise in temperature, reduction in plant species and reduced of farmlands. In addition, findings revealed that the demand for fuel wood is higher in rural Igabi where family sizes are higher and the wood fuel sources are more readily available. It was also found that the demand for fuel wood is not only influenced by family size and population growth, but accessibility, affordability and availability are other important determinants. Government should embark on intensive afforestation and mobilize people to engage in public and private afforestation programs in the area. In addition, people should be properly enlightened on the environmental implications on wood fuel consumption in the area. Also, laws regulating cutting down of trees should be reviewed and re-enforced. Keywords: fuel wood/ wood fuel, production, consumption and igabi LGA 1. Introduction Wood fuel is a vital source of energy to the rural and urban dwellers in developing countries. It occupies a unique position in rural energy systems due to the fact that it accounts for most of domestic energy consumption, and it is produced within the systems itself (FAO,2012) [7] . Fuel wood is any tree or wood material which is combustible and can be used as fuel. It may be available as firewood (e.g. logs, bolts, and blocks), charcoal, chips, sheets and sawdust. The processes of collecting fuel wood vary by regions and cultures. Some communities have specific fuel wood collection centres while others prepare a plot of land to grow wood for fuel. Fuel wood collection is usually done in group or individually. There are various tools and techniques used for gathering firewood in Africa (Cunningham, 2006) [5] . In Nigeria, the tools mostly used are cutlass, machete, axe, and sometimes machines. Fuel wood is usually the most preferred source of energy by rural dwellers that have very little access to alternative sources of energy. Therefore, fuel wood plays an essential role in meeting basic energy requirements connected with the subsistence of these people who are mostly engaged in primary activities. This is because fuel wood can be gathered easily and used cheaply in the rural areas According to the UNDP (2002), the share of various energy sources in the total primary energy supply in Nigeria are made up of oil, 10.4%; gas, 6%; hydro, 0.6%; and commercial renewable energy, 83%. The greater portion of the commercial renewable energy is wood, while other agricultural wastes constitute the remaining smaller portion. The over-dependence on fuel wood for energy is chiefly because of its relatively low prices and easy accessibility (Adedayo, 2005) [1] . Other reasons are constraints in the supply of the conventional fuels and the growing population with a larger segment still falling below incomes that cannot afford the cost of conventional fuels (Adedayo, 2005) [1] . This leads to deforestation and triggers soil erosion and desertification. Sambo (2005) [13] found that about 80 million cubic meters (43.4x109kg) of fuel wood is used annually for cooking and other domestic activities in Nigeria. Likewise, Tee et al (2009) also found that fuel wood is the major source of both domestic and industrial energy for the residents of Makurdi metropolis in Nigeria. Daily consumption of firewood by the rural communities in Nigeria is estimated at 27.5 million kilogram per day (Aide Memoire, 2002) [3] . In the drive to satisfy fuel wood requirements, most lands have been stripped bare of vegetation cover. This has resulted in soil exposure and erosion thereby placing a heavy burden on the environment and on the resources base. The scramble for fuel wood has resulted in massive destruction of many wood resources leading to deforestation and increasing desertification in parts of Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa (Adedayo, 2005) [1] . The rate of deforestation in Nigeria is estimated at 400,000 hectares per annum. Popoola (2000) International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences www.ecologyjournal.in Online ISSN: 2664-7133; Print ISSN: 2664-7125 Received: 01-11-2018; Accepted: 02-12-2018 Volume 1; Issue 1; January 2019; Page No. 01-06