Forms of Utilization of Forest Resources in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Study investigated the forms of utilization of forest resources in Southwestern, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting rural dwellers used for this study while data were obtained from 340 respondents with the use of interview schedule. Descriptive statistical tools used were frequency counts, percentages and weighted mean score (WMS) to analysis the responses gotten from the field. Results revealed that more than half (54.4%) of the respondents were and a mean age of 51.1 years was recorded for the respondents; mean household size of 7 members, majority were literate with a mean of 10 years spent in school recorded for the respondents and a mean amount of ₦247,658.82 was recorded as income realized from forest resources utilization on a monthly basis. Respondents in the study area indicated they utilized various types of forest resources such as wild forest fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, bush animal, forest trees, oil palm/coconut trees, water, sand and firewood. It was revealed that the utilized forest resources were utilized in various forms which include consumed at raw form, cooked form, agricultural inputs, asset formation, processed as herbs, medicine, for traditional rites, economic purposes and as source of energy. Deforestation, lack of extension contact to promote knowledge on use of the forest resources and lack of modern storage facilities were very severe constraints encountered in the utilization of forest resources in the study area. It was concluded that forest based rural people utilizes the available forest resources in the study area though through various form ranging from consumption, agricultural input, medicine, source of energy and for economic purpose amongst other several forms though the respondents encountered constraints in the utilization.  It is therefore recommended that, there is a need for concerned agencies, stakeholders and governments to employ environmental extension specialists with competence in environmental resources to aid the promotion and increase the awareness of the people on various beneficial attributes to derive from the utilization of forests.