Suchergebnisse

This study examined the integration of remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) tool to forest resource mapping and monitoring in Mbe Mountain Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary. Landsat satellite imageries for 1987, 2001, 2013 and 2019 covering 32 year period were used to classify and identify forest changes through change detection techniques. The result showed a general conversion from forested areas to degraded landscape in all the years under review except in 2019 Result showed that degraded areas were derived not only from previously forested zones but also from areas previously occupied by water bodies and rocky outcrops. Deliberate re-channeling of water courses within the reserve to aid irrigation purposes to farms outside the protected area was a causal factor in the conversion of areas previously occupied by water bodies while artisanal mining activities had leveled rocky outcrops to bare grounds. It was observed that degradation rate was discriminatory as it was highest in the southern and eastern flank of the reserve bordering Okwango Division of the Cross River National Park (CRNP). The responsible for this are late establishment of Ecoguards and partial enforcement of regulatory laws. Over all, the reluctance of Federal government to officially gazette the reserve as a protected area on its own or its fusion into the Okwango Division of the CRNP was observed as the main deforestation trigger. Furthermore, the continuous decline in forest cover is predicted for 2025 with a corresponding 19.8 % conversion of forest landscape into degraded lands. This may result in total loss of forest cover around Bamba, Abo Mkpang, Abo Obisu and Wula areas leaving Kanyang 1 and 11 only as zones occupied by forests. The findings of this research is to be shared with Wildlife Conservation Society, the nine host communities and the Ministry of Biodiversity and Climate Change Forestry Commission with a view to influencing decisions making that would halt the deforestation rate.

The aim of this study is to extract and utilise the bark of Berlinia grandiflora as a natural dye source for the colouration of cotton and polyamide 6 fabrics. The solvents used for this study were water, methanol, acetone, and methanol/potassium hydroxide. The best of all the solvents used was water. In the extraction process, the various solvents were extracted with Soxhlet extractor. The optimum colourant extraction was observed at 40 °C for 2 h. The extracted compound was isolated and characterized by UV spectrophotometry; proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Mordanting and subsequent dyeing of cotton and polyamide 6 fabrics with the extracted colourant were performed to investigate the dye's efficiency. Two metal salts, namely copper sulphate and stannous chloride, were used as mordants. Furthermore, the washing, rubbing, and light fastness properties of dyed samples were tested. The results of the fastness tests showed that the natural dye gave light fastness value (3= fair) without the use of mordants, whereas the values were 5 on cotton and 4 on nylon 6 with the use of mordants. The results of fastness of rubbing and washing were excellent for both cotton and nylon. The outcome of the study presents a potentially useful natural colourant for the colouration of natural and synthetic fibers.