The Okomu Forest Reserve is a forest block covering an area of 1081 km in Edo State, about 50 km west of Benin City, Nigeria. The Okomu National Park lies within the larger reserve, maintaining a small part of the forests that once covered the region as the last habitat for many endangered species.
History
The Okomu Forest Reserve was originally established by the British colonial government in 1912. In 1935, additional 411 sq km were added to the north and east, bringing the total area to 777 sq km. The reserve was intended to be managed as a source of lumber from the start, and its abundant mahogany stands have been exploited. The reserve has been actively engaged in systematic rotational logging and "taungya" farming since the 1940s. A section of forest is assigned to local farmers to be cut and farmed, then reforested with valuable tree species in this forest management scheme.
By 1984, huge swaths of the Okomu Forest Reserve had been converted to oil palm and rubber plantations, some officially, others illegally or with no oversight.
Climate
Okomu Forest Reserve is located in a tropical climate zone with a Köppen-Geiger classification of Am. This means that it experiences significant rainfall throughout the year, with an average annual temperature of 25.7 °C (78.3 °F). The high humidity and warm temperatures make it challenging to distinctly categorize seasons.
The most favorable times to visit the forest reserve are from January to December, with January, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December considered ideal. The short dry season has a minimal impact on the overall climate, emphasizing the consistent tropical conditions.
Temperature variations play a key role in the forest reserve's climate. February sees the highest average temperature at around 27.5 °C (81.4 °F), while August experiences the lowest at 24.1 °C (75.4 °F). The annual temperature range is relatively narrow, with an average difference of 3.3 °C (6.0 °F).
Rainfall distribution is noteworthy, with the least precipitation occurring in December (31 mm | 1.2 inch) and the most in September (304 mm | 12.0 inch). The variation in precipitation between the driest and wettest months is substantial at 273 mm (11 inch).
Relative humidity levels also contribute to the overall climate profile. June exhibits the highest humidity at 90.91%, emphasizing the city's tropical nature. Conversely, January experiences significantly lower relative humidity at 67.32%.
Okomu Forest Reserve's sunshine hours vary throughout the year, with January witnessing the highest number of daily hours of sunshine, averaging 7.46 hours per day and totaling 231.2 hours for the month. In contrast, December also experiences the lowest daily sunshine hours, averaging 3.82 hours per day and totaling 118.36 hours.
The wettest month in the forest reserve is July, with 28.30 rainy days, while December is the driest with 8.73 rainy days. The annual count of sunlight hours reaches approximately 1984.27, with an average of 65.3 hours per month.
Conservation
The Okomu Forest Reserve is one of Nigeria's most important conservation areas. The park was established in order to protect the region's natural ecosystem and biodiversity. Located within its boundaries, the area is a protected area to protect the unique flora and fauna found there.
Efforts are carried out through a combination of strategies and initiatives: