AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND WILDLIFE INCIDENCE AROUND A MAJOR DEFORESTATION SITE IN ODUAL CLAN OF RIVERS STATE

This study was carried out in Odual Clan in Abua/Odual local government area of Rivers State, Nigeria, to determine the effect of deforestation on air quality and wildlife. Three air pollutants were measured at the study sites (CO2, CH4, PM) It was observed that the mean concentrations of CO2 (970.5000000ppm, 548.1250000ppm, 690.2500000ppm) in all the study sites were above the permissible limits by WHO. The mean concentration of Pm7 (17.6250 µg/m3) in the deforested area was significantly higher than those of the control (7.1250 µg/m3) and the residential area (11.2500 µg/m3). The mean concentration of PM10 ranges from 9.2500 µg/m3 to 21.1250 µg/m3 with the deforested area having the highest concentration. T-test revealed a significant difference in the mean concentration of TSP with the deforested area having the highest concentration of 24.5000 µg/m3. Results (68% of respondents) also revealed that there is a loss of wildlife species. The causes of degradation according to the results obtained are chain sawing, illegal farming, over exploitation and illegal mining; 36%, 2%, 26% and 6% respectively