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Dr. Alfred Onefeli at UI Faculty Lecture reveals Taxonomy Holds the Key to Sustainable Forestry in Nigeria
The Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan at its 5th Faculty lecture on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, featured forestry professionals, interdisciplinary experts, academics, students, and nature lovers at the First Bank Auditorium, UI. The thought-provoking lecture, titled “Where Taxonomy Meets Silviculture: Pathways to Sustainable Forestry in Nigeria”, was delivered by Dr. Alfred Ossai Onefeli, a seasoned forestry expert from the Department of Forest Production and Products.
The event, hosted by Professor Adejoke O. Akinyele, Dean of the Faculty, highlighted the Faculty’s commitment to tackling the pressing issues of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change through science-based solutions. Praising Dr. Onefeli’s contributions, Prof. Akinyele described him as “a man deeply rooted in knowledge, committed to growing Nigeria’s forest future.”
In his lecture, Dr. Onefeli underscored the urgent need to integrate taxonomy, the science of identifying, naming, and classifying plants, into forestry practices. “Taxonomy is not just an academic exercise; it is the foundation for understanding our forests, managing their resources, and ensuring sustainability for generations yet unborn,” he emphasized.
Drawing on his extensive fieldwork across Nigeria’s rainforest ecosystems, he shared compelling insights into the nation’s floristic diversity. He highlighted the alarming knowledge gaps in the taxonomy of Nigeria’s flora, noting that “many silvicultural efforts have focused narrowly on a few commercial tree species, while countless indigenous plants, some with immense ecological and medicinal value, remain poorly understood or ignored.”
He recounted his team’s botanical surveys in Cross River National Park, Afi Mountain, and Mbe Mountains, where over 3,000 plant specimens were collected and about 400 identified. “Yet, more than 100 specimens are still undergoing verification at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom, because their identities were unknown to existing Floras,” Dr. Onefeli noted, describing it as a stark reminder of Nigeria’s taxonomic knowledge gap.
From morphological and anatomical studies to molecular techniques, Dr. Onefeli’s research has clarified complex relationships in economically important species such as Ricinodendron heudelotii, Terminalia superba, and Daniellia species, providing a solid foundation for conservation and silvicultural interventions. “Silvicultural decisions for commercial timber production or ecosystem restoration must be taxonomically informed in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
He also called for stronger taxonomic institutionalization in Nigeria, including the establishment of functional herbaria and DNA laboratories, plant authentication systems, and applied taxonomic research. He stressed the need for multidisciplinary collaborations to confront Nigeria’s forestry challenges effectively.
The Head of the Department of Forest Production and Products, Professor A.O. Omole, who also doubles as Pro-Chancellor of LAUTECH, noted Dr. Onefeli’s sacrifices in advancing forestry research in Nigeria. “He has given so much of himself to ensure that Nigeria’s forests are better understood and managed,” Prof. Omole remarked.
The lecture ended with a resounding applause and left attendees inspired. Many described it as “a necessary reminder of the strong bond between people, trees, and the future of our environment,” calling for urgent action to harness taxonomic knowledge for sustainable forestry.