Trees and their Economic, Cultural and Environmental Usage

Another writer's delight

INTRODUCTION

He who nurtures trees grows life and gives nature chance to exist. It is said that trees have important roles to play in society both in giving life, acquiring knowledge and promoting culture as well as other aspects. There are many ways in which humans can sustain their life, belief, value and economic involvement and trees are part of this.

LITERATURE REVIEW

According to the Oxford dictionary, a tree is any large plant, not exactly defined but typically over four meters in height; with a single trunk which grows in girth with age and branches and grows in circumference with age.

Although, trees have been in existence for 370 million years. A tree is a symbol of hope, and growth and its colour and beauty signify life itself which is green, IT IS LIFE.

The Igbo culture value trees and their beliefs as sacred communal places that have not disappeared from their lives, ndi igbo are known by their symbols which are ethics of the society that projects their nature values such as the value of beauty in life.

The use of trees as places of communion with spirits carried onto the diaspora even where a lot of Igbos ended up like the part of northern America example during the mafia. The diversity and utilization of typical religious ceremonies by the Igbos of southeast Nigeria were studied and documented in the Igbo culture as trees possess magical and mysterious powers, which are believed to have been endowed by CHI (God). But today, the average man has lost meaning in trees. In every community in Igbo land, you are bound to see certain trees that are condoned off with white or red cloth indicating that members of the community consider such trees sacred.

Apart from cultural activities, Trees store water and help in water conservation, trees create a nice atmosphere and filter the earth, they help in reducing global warming, and climate change and recycling both Water, Nitrogen and the food chain. Trees provide shelter for wildlife, give extensive research for forestry and reduce dehydration from the adverse effect of sun and heat.

Soil scientists discovered that trees can store heavy metals to reduce the spatial distribution of these metals like lead, cadmium, nickel, aluminium etc during environmental monitoring. Trees are a good source of environmental impact assessment, providing a good public image and reducing environmental pollution.

Trees translocate larger quality metals to their leaves by phyto extraction (hyperaccumulators), Rhizo filtration (root zone decontamination) and Phyto stabilization. Trees are a good source of soil management.

Trees can also be used for the production of drugs, exchange of foreign materials, and creation of employment as in timber shed production, they can be used for raw materials which industries use, and they can serve as herbs, fuel and food, to mention only but few.

THEORIES

In a study comparing the religious significance of different species for west african cultures, Schnell (1946) found out certain trees were sacred throughout the region, they were often protected and sacrifices were given to them.

In the significance of trees as a link to culture and belief, forest trees link the sky and earth, often symbolising the link between the spiritual world of ancestors and the people. Rituals and ceremonies in Igbo land drawn on forest symbols often serve to link people with their cultural heritage as well as their ancestral past. The tree is a maternal symbol; a protector and provider who gives fruit, other food, and medicines and provides a reservoir for water, protecting life against elements and evil spirits in the land. It symbolizes human fecundity, it can also be a phallic and paternal symbol of unity in the culture. Also, the deciduous characteristics of trees give them an ambiguous image which reflects trees' power to give life and rebirth as well as bring death.

In African myth, the tree is portrayed as an ancestral symbol of wisdom, authority and custom providing a bond between the living and the dead. Though in Igbo culture it symbolises a mediator and judge of both man and nature.

In the judicial function of trees, they serve both physical and symbolic judicial roles.

Symbolically, they can represent mediators or decision-makers. In the physical aspect, they are physical boundary makers that define properties and provide evidence of usual rights in judicial disputes in Igbo land.

According to Gorog-karada (1970), an evil deed is followed by atonement in which trees take part; the tree can be a giver of life, and death or it can insure a hero's survival. In some cases, you find out, trees intervene in situations where a man cannot solve his conflicts which are the conflicts where the rules of the traditional society in Igbo land have been ignored.

The uses of trees and their products in promoting culture and values and healthy life cannot be over-emphasised especially in the land of Ndi Igbo. In this case, trees provide a range of products for traditional ceremonies from food and beverages to costumes and musical products etc. There are some trees we see around us today that have impacts and roles to play in improving the belief, life, value and symbols which give life unexceptional about them and their products. They are many but few will be mentioned here as we go on

BAMBOO TREE

The bamboo tree is one of the best economic trees that is cherished. It serves many purposes like making crafts for aesthetic values and other cultural uses, its uses include building structures. Before the colonial age, there was nothing like concrete bridges, bamboos were used by the ancestors across all rivers and streams because they were known for farming. It is also used for staking, building barns and shelters, sometimes where deities are kept and other sacred things in the Igbo culture. It can also be used for cultural ceremonies. 70 per cent of Igbo soil is too soft and sandy, therefore there is a challenge of erosion devastation, but with the help of bamboo, the erosion sites are surmounted.

In the olden days, bamboo logs are used as a framework and skeleton bases for mud houses, even our rich folks still use them to make scaffolds, They can be used to make xylophones, drums and other musical instruments used in the Igbo culture.

PALM TREE

Nothing embedded in this tree is useless both in life and in culture, every aspect of this tree is lively and productive. The oil produced from it is used in cultural foods and other things around the world as far as it is edible. The kernel is used to make cream and other things in the Igbo culture, it can be used to make food for livestock, making of brooms and other things. one of the parts found in palm trees can be burnt to make ingredients for 'NGO' as the Igbos call it for cultural foods. Family and marriage institutions are very important in the Igbo community, initiating and consummating marriage and weddings amongst the Igbos can be rigorous and goes in phases, but the ancestors carefully chose the palm tree as a symbol of marriage and wedding rituals. They could have chosen any other thing for the bride to hand over to the groom but they chose "many new" palm wine which comes from the fabrics of the tree, signifying and symbolising the inner self no one can reach but oneself. It is white which signifies purity and above it all, it is natural and nourishing, good for health. In Igbo land, the wine is used to pour libations, offer prayers and herald events, the tree promotes culture and is invaluable economically.

IROKO TREE

One cannot mention trees and their contributions to life and culture without including 'OJ' as it is fondly called in Igbo land. it is the king of all trees as its greatness in height and size, it symbolises greatness in height and prowess. It is used as a source of adage which aids in teaching cultures and acquiring knowledge and wisdom. The tree houses birds and other animals with its height and majesty, it stands for hope and unity, an adage always says, whenever the iroko tree falls all the birds scatter it is economical as it is used in making some instruments for the Igbo culture. aside from culture and belief, the iroko can be cut and used for many industrial uses, it shades the communities and sometimes gives landmarks or centres for gathering for cultural activities. The 'OJ' tree is sometimes used to house sacred shrines and other cultures for the people.

KOLA TREE 

This particular tree not only gives life in breathing to humans but plays a large role in shaping man's view specifically its seed "kola nut". Kola is one of the trees whose fruit is one of the most important fruits in Igbo culture, not only fruit, but one of the most important things in promoting culture is it serves as a precursor at receptions, important meetings, and customary ceremonies. Before any kind of an occasion is carried out in an ideal social life kola comes first. the tree is regarded as the first tree and fruit of earth because no culture receives equal attention as its product.

Just as the boss says, oji bu eze, ie the kola is the king in any activity; even outside culture, the kola nut tree is economical and serves as a source of income to man.

SUMMARY

In conclusion of this topic, trees play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating climate and removing carbon dioxide and giving oxygen to live. But it doesn't end there, it promotes culture and plays a role in many Igbo mythologies. These serve a variety of symbolic functions which link with ancestry and cultural heritage.

The symbols provide social structure and cultural identity in a rapidly changing environment. The trees and their products will continue to be valued in part because they symbolise cultural cohesion. There can be little doubt that values are continuing to change, therefore this evolution of people's perceptions of the surrounding forest environment will undoubtedly be altered, although no studies explore the implications of changing cultural values on trees.

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