Department of Social & Environmental Forestry

Head of Department

Department Email
Email: sefd@uam.edu.ng

CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

In consonance with the philosophy of the College of Forestry and Fisheries, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry develops techniques as well as train theoretically and practically sound manpower for effective sustainable management of Nigeria’s abundant renewable natural resources especially forestry and wildlife resources. The aim is to facilitate rapid achievement of national self-sufficiency in natural resources management while catalyzing and sustaining rural development through improved scientific and practical resources management research and education.

Social Forestry describes the ways by which forest goods and services interact with the lives of people, especially in rural areas, as they participate in forestry activities such as forest production, harvesting, processing and marketing of produce at household or rural industrial level. Environmental forestry on the other hand, describes the ways by which trees and forests interact with their environment to conserve resources, and improve biomass yield on sustainable basis. Social and environmental forestry, including agroforestry, offer cheap and reliable means of producing forest goods such as wood, food, and feed, and providing services such as influencing the hydrological cycle, conserving genetic resources, climatic modification, erosion control, soil fertility conservation, desertification control and watershed maintenance. The Department aims to train students to understand the relationship between forestry and the environment as well as effectively utilize the social and environmental conservation roles of forestry to diversity and maximize productivity from land and improve farmers’ wellbeing on sustainable basis. It deals with the management, economics and extension as well as the uses of forestry principles and practices for environmental conservation.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMME

The main aim of the academic programme is to offer broad-based training of students, farmers and other land users, in both theoretical and practical skills required for effective scientific management of renewable natural resources. At the moment, the Forestry Programme offers only one degree namely Bachelor of Forestry, but has options in General Forestry, Forestry Production and products, Social and Environmental Forestry, and Wildlife and Range Management.

The Bachelor of Forestry (B. For.) is a 3 to 5 years programme depending on the qualification of candidates and their mode of entry. The Programme is structured to produce graduates with necessary skills to effectively and efficiently practice sustainable natural resources management. It is designed such that in the first year students take courses in all basic sciences and other skills needed in a changing technological environment.

During the first and second years, students are further exposed to basic and applied sciences as well as the basic principles in Agricultural and Natural Resources Management (Crop, Soil, Animals, Forestry, Wildlife, Food science and Technology, Home Economics and Fisheries). Thus the first two years are spent on basic science, arts and social sciences as well as some introductory courses in different areas of agriculture and natural resources management. This ensures a broad- based background for innovative practice in a world of competing sectarian demands on the ecosystem. The third year is spent on courses wholly housed in the College. It is a year of very intensive theoretical work and covers introductory courses in all the natural resources management options.

The fourth year is devoted to practical and field experience. It is divided into two parts. The first semester is spent on campus where the students are exposed to practical aspects of sustainable and efficient utilization of natural resources in various subjects. It includes 6 months of practical attachment to forest-based establishments especially National Parks within Nigeria to expose the students and equip them with enough practical knowledge.

The 5^th year is devoted to Seminar presentations and project work by students as well as lectures and practicals aimed at equipping the students with skills on solving problems in natural resources management.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Entry into the Bachelor of Forestry programme is by merit as specified from time to time by the University and approved by the National Universities Commission. The Bachelor of Forestry Programme is of 3 to 5 years duration depending on the level of entry as determined by the candidate’s qualification. For a five year programme, five (5) O’Level credit passes are required in the SSCE/NECO/GCE etc in not more than 2 sittings. Such credit level passes must include English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science. Other credit passes must be obtained from Physics, Geography and Economics. Credit in Physics and Mathematics are substitutable in all the Forestry Courses of the University of Agriculture Makurdi. That is, a credit in Mathematics with a pass in Physics or a credit in Physics with a Pass in Mathematics is acceptable.

National Diploma (ND) or National Certificate of Education (NCE) candidates with Credit level passes that satisfy the ‘O’ level requirements may be admitted to the second year (200 level) of the five year programme. Same is applicable to GCE ‘A’ level candidates with Biology and Chemistry.

Higher National Diploma (HND) Certificate holders with at least credit level passes who meet the ‘O’ level admission requirements may be admitted to the third year (300 level) of the 5-year programme. Any other equivalent qualification may be considered for entry into the programme on its own individual merit.

LIST OF COURSES OFFERED AND SYNOPSIS

100 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER

S/No.	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNITS
1	BIO 101	General Biology I	4
2	CHM 111	Basic Inorganic Chemistry	2
3	CHM 151	Basic Experimental Chemistry I	1
4	GST 111	Communication in English I	2
5	GST 113	Nigerian Peoples, Culture & Contemporary problems of Youth	2
6	GST 115	History and Philosophy of Science	2
7	MTH 111	Foundation of Mathematics	3
8	PHY 101	Physics for Life Sciences	2
9	PHY 151	Experimental Physics for Life Sciences	1
10	STA 111	Basic Statistics I	3
	TOTAL		22

100 LEVEL

SECOND SEMESTER

S/No.	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNITS
1	BIO 102	General Biology II	4
2	CHM 122	Basic Physical Chemistry	3
3	CHM 132	Basic Organic Chemistry	3
4	CHM 152	Basic Experimental Chemistry I	1
5	GST 112	Philosophy and Human Existence	2
6	GST 114	Use of Library Study Skills & ICT	2
7	GST 116	Communication in English II	2
8	MTH 132	Applied Mathematics II	3
	TOTAL		20

200 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER COURSES

S/No.	Course Code	Course title	Credit units
1	ACP 201	Introduction to Agriculture	3
2	ACP 203	Crop Anatomy, Taxonomy and Physiology	2
3	AEC 201	Principles of Agricultural Economics	2
4	ABP 201	Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals	2
5	BCH 201	General Biochemistry I	2
6	BIO 201	Genetics	2
7	SEF201	Forestry and the Environment	1
8	FPP 203	Introduction to Forestry	2
9	ENT 211	Entrepreneurship and Innovation	2
10	SSA 201	Introduction to Soil Science	3
11	CMP 111	Introduction to Computer	3
	Total		24

200 LEVEL

SECOND SEMESTER COURSES

S/No.	Course Code	Course title	Credit units
1	ACP 202	Principles of Crop Production	2
2	ANP 202	Principles of Animal Production	2
3	BCH 202	General Biochemistry II	2
4	WRM 202	Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries	2
5	SEF 204	Sociology of Natural Resources	4
6	FPP 206	Forest and Field Ecology	2
7	FST 202	Introduction to Food Science and Technology	2
8	GST 222	Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution	2
9	HSM 202	Introduction to Home Science and Management	2
10	SSA 202	Agro climatology and Biogeography	3
	Total		23

300 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER COURSES

S/No.	Course Code	Course title	Credit units
1	AEX 301	Introduction to Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology	2
2	CEP 303	Principles of Crop Protection	2
3	FPP 301	Introduction to Silviculture	2
4	FPP 303	Forest Resource Inventory and Mensuration	3
5	FPP 305	Natural Ecosystems	3
6	WRM 307	Introduction to Forestry and Wildlife Management	2
7	FPP 309	Wood Formation and Properties	2
8	SEF 311	Forest Fire Management	3
9	SEF 313	Entrepreneurial Skills in Renewable Natural Resources I	2
	Total		21

300 LEVEL

SECOND SEMESTER COURSES

S/No.	Course Code	Course title	Credit units
1	FOR 302	Forest Economics and Management I	2
2	FOR 304	Aerial Photography and Ground Survey	3
3	FOR 306	Forest Engineering	3
4	FOR 308	Wildlife Population Analysis	2
5	FOR 310	Forest and Wildlife Biometrics I	2
6	FOR 312	Wildlife Ecology and Management	2
7	FOR 314	Forest and Wildlife Pests and Diseases	3
8	FOR 316	Community and Urban Forestry	2
9	FOR 320	Agroforestry	2
10	FOR 322	Entrepreneurial skills in Renewable Natural Resources II	2
	Total		23

400 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER COURSES

S/No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit units
1	FPP 401	Forest Inventory and Management Plan	3
2	FPP 403	Silvicultural Techniques	2
3	SEF 405	Remote Sensing and Mapping	2
4	FPP 407	Wood Harvesting Processing and Utilization	2
5	WRM 411	Zoo and Parks Management Techniques	2
6	WRM 413	Training in Fire Arms and Ballistics	2
7	SEF 415	Agroforestry and Plantation Technology	3
	Total		16

400 LEVEL

SECOND SEMESTER COURSES

S/No.	Course Code	Course title	Credit units
1	FPP 402	Forest Operations	2
2	WRM 404	Museum and Herbarium Techniques	2
3	WRM 406	Wildlife Ecological Survey	2
4	SEF 408	Aerial and Ground Survey	2
5	SEF 410	Report Writing	2
6	FPP 412	Saw Milling	2
7	FPP 414	Wood Seasoning and Preservation	2
	Total		14

500 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER COURSES

S/No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Units
1	SEF501	Multiple Land Use	2
2	SEF 503	Forest Hydrology and Water Resources Management	2
3	SEF 505	Environment and Tree Production	2
4	SEF 507	Environmental Pollution and Control	2
5	SEF 509	Forestry in Soil Erosion and Control	2
6	SEF 511	Forest Economics and Management II	2
7	SEF 513	Forest and Wildlife Policy, Law and Administration	2
8	SEF 515	Seminar	2
9	FPP 505	Forest and Wildlife Biometrics II	2
	Total		18

500 LEVEL

SECOND SEMESTER COURSES

S/No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Units
1	SEF 502	Forest Products Marketing and Insurance	2
2	SEF 504	Remote Sensing in Resources Management	2
3	SEF 506	Forest Industrial Waste Management	2
4	SEF 508	Environmental Impact Evaluation and Monitoring	2
5	SEF 510	Water Shed Management	2
6	SEF 516	Forestry Extension and Rural Sociology	2
7	SEF 512	Natural Resources Conservation	2
8	SEF 514	Ecological Disasters and Management	2
9	SEF 599	Project	4
	Total		20

NB: Minimum CCE for Graduation = 201