ECONOMIC POTENTIALS AND CONSERVATION OF THE GENETIC RESOURCES OF EUCALYPTUS CAMALDULENSIS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Eucalyptus camaldulensis is one of the naturally occurring species to trees in the Nigerian savanna regions especially in the northern Nigeria. the species are also cultivated in the forest areas of Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, because the naturally occurring form is slow in growth and difficult to manage and harvest. Products obtained include oil, tannins, fuel wood etc whose demand is on the increase due to increasing population. The industrial and other economic uses of the tree species were, however, not of immediate concern. Provenance study on Eucalyptus camaldulensis in Niger State revealed a tremendous amount of genetic variation its growth and form characteristics, hence provenance selection can be used to improve them. This provenance selection method include provenance resource stand, provenance conservation stand and seed stand. Since no one provenance stand excelled the others in all the characteristics, it is necessary to conserve even those provenances that were relatively unsuitable for selection on the basis of growth rate for the improvement of those so selected through inter-provenance hybridization. Since other important uses of the species are yet to be properly exploited in Nigeria, there is the need for the conservation of its genetic resources for future studies and user using appropriate conservation strategies. The study recommended more private participation in the production of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and urged the state to provide rural feeder roads to link the production sites with the urban (industrial) town/cities.