Ogbono trees vanishing in Bayelsa
Irvingiagbonensis, popularly known as Ogbono and commonly called ‘African mango’ or ‘wild mango’, is gradually vanishing from Bayelsa State. The gradual absence of Ogbono is not unconnected with the illegal logging of woods in some of the thick forests where the trees are grown, as well as the nonchalant attitude of the indigenes who prefer investing their money in plantain plantations which they say grow fast and yield quick dividend.
Daily Trust investigations revealed that Ogbono trees grow in large quantity in some local government areas of the state such as Sagbama, Ogbia, Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw.
Ogbono, according to research by Chris Chinaka and J.C. Obiefuna, is an indigenous forest tree belonging to the group of plants classified as ‘non-timber forest products. In Nupe, it is called ‘pekpeara’ , ‘Ogwi’ in Bini, Ogbono/ugiri depending on the variety in Igbo, ‘uyo’ in Efik and ‘oro’ in Yoruba. It belongs to Irvingiaceae family of plants.
The tree attains a height of up to 30 metres and 1.0 metres in girth when fully developed. The leaves are simple and alternate up to 10 cm long with deciduous stipples up to 1.2cm long, with the leaves encircling scares on the branchlets. The flowers according to the research are tiny, white to greenish and appear in clustered axially racemes. The flowers are very sweetly scented and the fruits are slightly flattened.
According to the researchers, “The pulp of the Irvingia is said to be eaten although it is bitter and acrid with the flavour of turpentine and slightly slimy. On the other hand, the pulp of the gabonensis is sweet, smooth in the month and has brittle pulp.”
Before now, Ogbono trees were the major source of revenue in Bayelsa State. The tree, which grows on its own, is harvested by the people of the area, the fruits processed and sold in the open market. However, thetrees are gradually going vanishing.
Mr Anthony, a native of Otuesage community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state blamedthe gradual extinction of Ogbono on the activities of illegal loggers who fell the trees and convert it into logging woods.
He said the loggers, who are of Igbo extraction, would approach the land owners in the thick forest where the trees are planted and plead for portions of land for farming, only to end up felling the trees and cutting them into logs.
Their illegal activities are unchecked as there are no forest guards to protect the trees.
Anthony blamed the Bayelsa State government for not employing forest guards who he said would have been charged with the responsibility of guarding the forest against illegal poachers.
He said “Before now, Bayelsa State was the highest producer of Ogbono seed in the SouthSouth part of Nigeria as they are harvested in large quantities in almost all the local government areas of the state.”
He said Ogbono trees grow on their own in the thick mangrove forest, while big time farmers plant the trees and nurture them to maturity.
“Ogbono trees can last for 30 to 50 years as long as nobody cuts them down. The ones that have stayedthat long when cut into logs can give you a lorry load. Most of the ones in this category have been cut down. You can hardly find an Ogbono tree that is up to 30 years. They’ve all been cut down by illegal loggers.”
He said the long maturity period of Ogbono tree is one of the reasons why most people are not interested in growing it.
He added “It takes years for the plant to grow so they prefer plantain farming which does not take much time to grow. It also yields quick money.”
He called on the state government to set up a monitoring team that should be charged with the responsibility of guarding the forest, adding “that is the only way the trees can be protected.”
Another resident of Yenagoa, David Zukumo, blamed the felling of the trees on the lackadaisical attitude of government on forest reserve.
He said the over dependence on oil revenue has made government not to pay much attention tononoil revenue resource.
“Our budget is tied to oil revenue with little attention paid to agriculture and other sectors. As a little boy in the 1980s, I used to accompany my parents to the forest to harvest Ogbono seed.”
“The trees were so many and nobody was felling them and we made a lot of money from the sales. But these days all eyes are on oil and nobody cares about the Ogbono. That gave room for illegal loggers to invade the forest and fell the trees.”
The scarcity of Ogbono trees in Bayelsa has affected the cost of the processed Ogbono seed. A cup of Ogbono sold for N500 before now goes for N800.
Some of the traders who spoke to our reporter blamed the high coston felling of the trees.
“Ogbono is very scarce in the state now. The seeds are very difficult to get these days because of the activities of illegal loggers. Sometimes, we travel out of the state to get the seed,” stated a petty trader at EkekiMarket who gave her name as Monica.
Efforts made to speak with the Bayelsa State Commissioner for environment on the felling of trees in the state was not successful.