Vegetation and land cover
The Metropolis, situated in the savannah woodland zone characterized by short trees and scattered wood lots, is home to various tree types, including Dawadawa, Nim, Acacia, Mahogany, and Baobab and tall grasses used to make local mat called "Zanamat" for roofing and also for fencing. The making of the Zanamat by some farmers during the dry season reduces the rural migration levels of the youth from the rural areas to urban centers. The only important economic tree is the Shea tree which has gained international recognition and helped lower poverty and boost household incomes. The picking, processing and marketing of the Sheanuts has engaged thousands of households in the Metropolis. This activity has also contributed to an increase in household incomes and reducing poverty levels of the people, particularly women and youth. The Metropolis also has a large cashew farming industry, but climate change threatens these crops, with a 30% decline in production reported.
There are two main forest reserves in the central part of the Metropolis namely the Nyohini and Agric Forest Reserves. However, these are being encroached upon by private developers (restaurants, petty traders and other businesses). The Forestry Services divission which has the oversight responsibility to ensure effective management of these reserves is saddled with the problem of personnel and financial resources to manage these areas. While these forest reserves are encroached upon and are being used for commercial activities, majority of the population use these areas as an open place for defecation thereby increasing basic sanitation hazards in the Metropolis. These phenomena call for effective forest reserves management and the need for private investors to acquire these areas and ensure that economic activities are being implemented such as picnics and holiday inns in these areas.
