*3.4.2 Loss of plant species*

The harvesting of non-timber forest products has resulted in the dwindling of some plant species in the forest reserves such as "Anwonomo/Aworomo" (*Aumatococcus daniefii*), canes, and raphia palm. In the case of Garcinia spp., traditional chewing sticks for the cleaning of teeth, as a substitute to paste and toothbrush have gone extinct. The situation of the timber species in the forest reserves is crucial for forest degradation. It was very difficult to locate economic trees measuring 130 cm dbh (diameter at breast height) in the year 2001 in any of the forest reserves at Asunafo [34]. The forest ecosystem of Asunafo faces timber provision problems due to unsustainable timber activities.
