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Green Building Practices: Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation of the Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in a Developing Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Oluwayinka Seun Oke

    (Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure 340110, Nigeria)

  • John Ogbeleakhu Aliu

    (Engineering Education Transformations Institute, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
    CIDB Centre of Excellence, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa)

  • Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke

    (Research Group on Sustainable Infrastructure Management plus (RG-SIM+), Department of Quantity Surveying, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure 340110, Nigeria
    Department of Quantity Surveying, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure 340110, Nigeria)

  • Damilola Ekundayo

    (School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B4 7BD, UK)

  • Oluwafemi Matthew Duduyegbe

    (Department of Quantity Surveying, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure 340110, Nigeria)

Abstract

Since 1990, approximately 420 million hectares of forest have been lost worldwide due to land conversion for various uses, including agriculture, infrastructure development, urbanization, and other human activities. This study aims to investigate the critical drivers contributing to deforestation and forest degradation (DFD) in Ondo State, Nigeria, thereby identifying areas where REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) interventions could be most effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), which is released through forest loss and degradation. A questionnaire survey was used to obtain data from construction professionals such as architects, engineers, builders, quantity surveyors, and project managers. Collected data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages to report the background information of professionals, Mean Item Scores (MIS) to rank critical drivers of DFD, and Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) to identify the most critical drivers. FSE analysis revealed that DFD is primarily motivated by agricultural expansion (including cattle ranching and shifting cultivation) and infrastructure extension (particularly transportation networks and market and service infrastructure) among the proximate drivers. The analysis also identified demographic, economic, and policy and institutional factors as the most significant underlying drivers. The emphasis on agricultural expansion and infrastructure extension suggests that targeted interventions in these areas could significantly mitigate DFD in the study site under consideration. This may involve implementing stricter regulations and incentives to promote sustainable land use practices among farmers and landowners. Additionally, integrating environmental impact assessments into infrastructure projects can help minimize forest loss associated with road construction and urban expansion. This study introduces an innovative approach by applying the Geist and Lambin conceptual framework of ‘proximate causes and underlying driving forces’. It is among the pioneering studies conducted in the study area to comprehensively analyze the drivers contributing to DFD using these frameworks. Although conducted in Ondo State, Nigeria, the findings can be extrapolated to similar regions facing similar challenges of DFD worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Oluwayinka Seun Oke & John Ogbeleakhu Aliu & Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke & Damilola Ekundayo & Oluwafemi Matthew Duduyegbe, 2025. "Green Building Practices: Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation of the Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in a Developing Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-19, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:1538-:d:1590006
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Srishti Gaur & Rajendra Singh, 2023. "A Comprehensive Review on Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Change Modeling for Urban Development: Current Status and Future Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Shapiro, Aurélie & d’Annunzio, Rémi & Desclée, Baudouin & Jungers, Quentin & Kondjo, Héritier Koy & Iyanga, Josefina Mbulito & Gangyo, Francis Inicko & Nana, Tatiana & Obame, Conan Vassily & Milandou,, 2023. "Small scale agriculture continues to drive deforestation and degradation in fragmented forests in the Congo Basin (2015–2020)," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. Saif Ullah & Yixiong Wu & Azeem Iqbal Khan, 2023. "Evaluating the Socioeconomic Factors on Deforestation in Northern Pakistan: A Study on Existing Economic Incentive Tools for Reducing Deforestation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, March.
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