Illegal activities in Ago-Owu Forest Reserve in Osun Sate and its implication on sustainable forest management

This study aimed at assessing illegal activities with a view to enhancing sustainable forest management (SFM) in Ago-Owu reserve. Purposive sampling was used to select four communities from eight communities around the reserves. The major targets were the households. Based on this, 162 respondents (48, 27, 45, and 42) were selected from 480, 266, 447 and 420 households in Mokore, Ejemu, Abaoba and Famuyiwu respectively using 10% sampling intensity. Primary data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and logistic regression. Majority of the respondents were male (62.9%), 51-60years (33.3%), married (50.6%), had secondary education (48.1%), had 16-30 years of residency (67.9%), with household size of 4 (32.7%), farmers (58.6%) and indigenes (77.2%). Majority (18.5%) generated income/annum of ₦310000 - ₦400000. Major illegal activities were; collection of fuelwood (96.3%), trespass (96.3%) and illegal felling of trees (89.5%). Illegal activities were dependent on communities (χ2 =19.30); sex (χ2 = 6.33); education (χ2 = 11.59), nativity (χ2 = 12.30), years of residency (χ2 = 45.13) and occupation (χ2 =13.09). Major socio-economic impacts include; damaging of NTFPs (90.1%), loss of revenue (90.1%) and climate change (84.5%). High population was the most significant factor contributing to illegal activities with odds-ratio of 1249218286570. Methods mostly used in monitoring illegal activities include; Use of law enforcement agency (100%), Forest guards (88.3%) and Community vigilante (75.3%). Illegal activities in forest reserves are a major threat to forest conservation. Therefore, strategies aimed at reducing dependence on forest should be established thereby enhancing SFM.Keywords: Illegal activities, Forest reserve, Households, Conservation, Sustainable forest managemen

Socio-economic impacts of timber harvesting in Ago’owu Forest Reserve and its environs In Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria

The socio-economic impacts of timber harvesting in Ago’Owu Forest Reserve and its environs were investigated. Simple random sampling  technique was used to select 100 forest dwellers from 3 adjoining communities of Ago’Owu Forest Reserve. Sample was drawn in proportionate to size. A set of structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on various timber species in Ago ‘Owu Forest Reserve, impacts of timber harvesting on the livelihood of forest dwellers and challenges of the timber harvesting in the Forest Reserve. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and logistic regression at α0.05. The average age of the respondents was 36.7±8.9 years, mostly male (87.1%) and married (53.4%) while  34.7% and 34.7% had secondary and primary education respectively. Harvested timber species in the area were Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis and Triplochiton scleroxylon. Results on socio-economic impacts revealed that timber harvesting has positively affected the livelihood of the respondents in terms of income generation (22.8%), rural development (20.8%), improved standard of living (19.8%), poverty alleviation (19.8%) and job opportunity (15.5%). Relationship between socio-economic characteristics and the impact of timber harvesting in Ago ‘Owu Forest Reserve revealed that there was significant association among nativity (χ2 =6.75), occupation (χ2 =21.21), work experience (χ2 = 16.84) and impact on timber harvesting in Ago ‘Owu Forest Reserve. Identified challenges facing timber harvesting were poor road network, high tariff, transportation of products and capital intensive nature of the harvesting process with odd-ratios of 1206.0, 81.3, 26.7 and 23.4, respectively. Timber harvesting and  trade in the Forest Reserve were found to have highly impacted the livelihood of the forest dwellers positively, although still confronted by some  challenges. However, government should encourage plantation establishment, review tariff, repair road network and address other problems faced by timber contractors and loggers. Keywords: Forest Reserve, Timber harvesting, Challenges involved, Forest dwellers, Rural livelihoo

Socio-economic analysis of non-timber forest products: A case of wrapping leaves in Oluwa Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria

The significant role of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) cannot be over emphasized in nation building. Despite the tremendous  benefits derived from the NTFPs in supporting the rural dwellers financially, it is perceived as less important to national development  especially in developing countries. This study analyzed the economic benefits of non-timber forest products in Oluwa forest reserve, Ondo State with a view to encouraging sustainable forest management. Purposive and random sampling were used to select 213 respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics and the budgetary techniques analyses were used for the study. Results indicated that majority of the respondents were male (56.10%), 30.00% were between the age of 30-39 years, 78.10% were married, 55.90% had household size between 1-5 people and 47.10% had secondary education. Major non-timber forest products identified in the study area include; wrapping leaves (23.20%), fuel wood (22.60%), bush meat (14.80%), snails (9.70%) and wild fruits (7.70%). The study showed that respondents used more of wrapping leaves and fuel wood with average ranking of 0.84 and 0.83 respectively. The result showed a positive profit (₦20,700.00) for wrapping leaf business and returns ₦1.80k for every ₦1 invested. The study calls for sustainable forest management of non-timber forest products to be taken up as a developmental strategy in the study area. Key words: NTFPs, Oluwa forest reserve, rural dwellers, sustainable forest management, wrapping leave