Strategies for enhancement of utilization potential of edible woody forest species of south-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, deforestation, which leads to tremendous loss of biodiversity, is well advanced and about 90% of its rain forest has already been cleared. The Nigerian environment is also beset with many other problems including a food crisis. To address these problems a research project on ''Development and Utilization of some endangered edible forest species of South-eastern Nigeria'' was sponsored by World Wildlife Fund, Washington D.C. The Project investigated chemical evaluation, formulation of new edible products and ex-situ conservation techniques of 16 study species and produced significant results in each of these aspects