ABSTRACT

The Study assessed Timber Processing And Wood-Waste Utilization In Uratta Timber Market And Umuahia Timber Market, .Abia State, Nigeria. Data was collected by reconnaissance survey, oral interviews, and personal interactions with key informants. Also, experimental approach through identification of common tree species used in the Timber Markets and the amount of wood wastes generated was determined. The identification ofthe tree species in each location was done by visual observation and with the help of sawmill workers. To determine the socio demographic characteristics of the sawmill operators and various uses of wood wastes generated in the two geographical locations. Data was analyzed using mean, percentages and frequency distributions. The results showed that majority (95%) of the respondents were male, while the rest (5%) were female. Also majority (41.66%) of the respondents were within the age bracket of 39- 48years, 30% of the respondents were within the age bracket of 29- 38years, 16.66% of the respondents were within the age bracket of 19- 28 years of age, while 11.66% ofthe respondents were within the age bracket of 49- 58years of age. The Mean Volume of Sawdust generated in the selected sawmills. 3.55 m3, 5.07 m3, 1.76m3, 5.91m3, 5.55m3and 6.28m3 was generated in UM1, UM2, UM3, Osil, Osi2 and Osi3 respectively. The results above showed that the highest sawdust volume was generated in Osi3 (6.28) followed by Osil(5.9IM3) while the least saw dust volume was generated in Umu3 (1.76M3). 1.67%, 1.67% and 5% of the respondents indicated that wood wastes generated are used for briquettes making, energy use and engineered wood products respectively. Also 81%, 91% and 95% of the respondents indicated that the uses of wood wastes are animal beddings, mulching gardens and domestic cooking respectively. Based on the findings from the study, it can be concluded that sawmill operators in Osisioma and Umuahia are majorly married males within energetic age and having low academic qualification. Ten wood species are exploited in the sawmills and these include Khayasenegalensis, Miliciaexcelsa, Gmelinaarborea, Tectona grandis, Cedral deodara, Nauclea diderrichii, Triplochiton scleroxylon , Cola acuminate and Mangifera indica. The status ofthe local trees species in the study area depicts that out of ten identified trees species, two trees species were vulnerable, one near threatened, one endangered, six were ofleast concern (International Union for Conservation ofNature (IUCN), 2022) There was variation in wood waste generated from different sawmills and the highest sawdust volume was generated in Osi3 (6.28) followed by Osil(5.91M3) while the least sawdust volume was generated in Umu3 (1.76M3). Wood waste generated in Osisioma is greater than that obtained in Umuahia.The level of wood waste utilization in Umuahia and Osisioma LGAs was very low as most of the waste goes to animal beddings and mulching which accounts for just a little percentage ofthe total wastes generated. Based on the findings ofthe study, it is therefore recommended that conservative measures must be set up for vulnerable and endangered tree species to ensure their availability.