Assessing the Role of Agricultural Practices in Accelerating Forest Degradation in Hong LGA Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Forest degradation has emerged as a critical environmental challenge in Hong Local Government Area due to increasing population pressure and the heavy dependence of rural households on agriculture and forest resources for livelihood. This study adopts a mixed-method approach, utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were obtained through the administration of structured questionnaire copies across six wards using a stratified sampling technique, while secondary data were sourced from existing literature, forestry reports, and previous studies on land use. A total of 398 questionnaires were administered, out of which 381 were retrieved and analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequencies and percentages. The results revealed that agricultural practices play a significant role in driving forest degradation in the study area. Land clearing for farming was identified as the most dominant factor (94.0%) reflecting the expansion of subsistence agriculture into forested lands. Fuelwood extraction (91.1%) was also a major driver, indicating high dependence on biomass energy. Similarly, slash-and-burn agriculture (90.5%) contributes to both immediate forest loss and long-term soil degradation. Other factors such as poor land management practices (86.6%), overgrazing and farmland expansion (86.1%), use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides (80.6%), and shifting cultivation (76.1%) further contribute to vegetation loss, soil degradation, and reduced forest regeneration. The study concludes that forest degradation in Hong LGA is largely driven by unsustainable agricultural practices, reinforced by socio-economic pressures, energy dependence on fuelwood, and weak institutional frameworks. This study recommends the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices such as agroforestry, crop rotation, and conservation agriculture, as well as the promotion of alternative energy sources like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and biogas to reduce pressure on forest.