ABSTRACT
Many forest reserves in the
country were originally set up in recognition of the importance of forest.
However, management of existing forest land is appalling. In recent years,
there have been high rate of deforestation in Bayelsa state. There is therefore
a need for proper management of forest and its resources. The study analysed
the potential for the use of participatory forest management structure in the
conservation of forest resources in Bayelsa state using a sample size 150
respondents that were obtained using a multistage sampling technique. Three out
of the eight local government areas in Bayelsa state (Ogbia, Yenagoa and
Ekeremor) each reflecting the three agricultural zones. Interviewed schedules
and structured questionnaire were administered to elicit information from the
respondents. Data gotten from both primary and secondary sources were analysed
using descriptive and inferential statistics which include: frequencies, means,
percentages, probit regression model and likert rating scale. As regard the
socio economic characteristics of the respondent, the result shows that
majority (66.25%) were male while most(40.8%) of them were in the age bracket
of 41 – 50 years, closely followed by 31 – 40 years (23.1%), Also, household
size was majorly(40%) in the bracket of 5 – 8, with a mean household size of 7.
Educationally, majority (47.0%) attended primary school, while 5.4% attended
higher education. The results reveal that the fresh water swamp forest
represent the highest concentration of forest in the locality. This was closely
followed by mangrove forest (23.1%) and the riparian forest (15.4%). Most of
the management practices were not observed, thus leaving the forest in a grave
situation. However findings reveal that traditional oriented management was
actively practiced although in a limited proportion. As regard the perception
of the local people to the use of P.F.M.S for forest management, four out of
the nine variables used in the probit regression showed positive and
significant contribution to the variation in the perception of the use PFMS.
These include; educational status, occupation, benefit from forest and as
mechanism for conflict resolution. These factors help in explaining the
variability in the perception of the people in the use of PFMS. The other
variable; environmental problem and annual income were positive but not
significant. In terms of the willingness to pay, three of the eight variables
tested showed positive coefficient and were significant. These were, age,
forest benefit, and gender. The likert rating scale indicates that some
constraints such as lack of funds, insufficient education/publicity, lack of
political will, corruption, lack of well trained staffs came out top in the
ranking of challenges or constraints to the establishment of PFMS. It was
therefore recommended that traditional resources management should be promoted
more so as it gives the local people the opportunity to partake in forest
management and also the diversification of the economy so as to divert the
attention of the rural dwellers on the excessive exploitation of the forest.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The term forest
embraces a large variety of landscapes vegetation formation and ecosystem
(Obot, 1997). Forest contains a number of natural resources which develop their
distinctive value, when wisely used and harnessed in a sustainable way or
acquire environmental threat characteristic when over exploited. Nigeria
forest, like elsewhere in the world are important for the ecosystem services
they provide, including watershed protection, climate control, and animal
species (Nigerian environmental analysis 2002). This forest also provides
valuable commercial timber sources and other commercially harvested products
such as resin, spices, rattan and many more. The rural populace also benefit
largely from forest resources as a source for fuel wood and building materials
and for a myriad of non tree forest products (NTFP) with various uses as food,
flavouring, medicines, various domestic use and also in some case for their
traditional values.
Before
independence, the available forest resources could adequately cater for the
country’s requirement, both to meet the export and local consumption. However,
after independence, there was pressure on the forest resources to generate
income to support the young economy and meet the need of the ever increasing
population (EC-FAO 2003). The bulk of the forest and forest resources that
remained hitherto relatively undisturbed until the 1980, have been lost in the
last two decades. In 1992, forest accounted for only 9.61% (8.874.225.ha) of
Nigeria’s total land area measuring about 923,768,000ha. Okonta (1998) noted
that during the period 1980, it was estimated that 43.48% of the total forest
ecosystem had been converted to other uses as a result of human activities.
Current estimates put the rate of forest depletion at 3.3% per year (FAO,
2005). Based on this, it has been estimated that the country will lose all her
forest by the year 2020. FORMECU (1994) projected the yield from the forest
estates between the year 2000 and 2010, putting it at a total of 8273m2
for 2000 and 7316m2 for 2010, implying that less
In an attempt to bring to a halt, the deplorable state
of forestry in Nigeria, forest reserves were constituted in the early twenties
and communities in the past never tempered with the reserves as they obeyed and
respected the law that forbade any form of encroachment into the reserves
(Amika, 1993). This was partly due to low population density. But with
increased local population, migration, land hunger, cash squeeze, food scarcity
and awareness, people’s attention turned to the forest. Together, the national
parks cover about 22,592 km2, which is about 2.5% of the country’s
landmass. They are owned and managed exclusively by the federal government
hence, leaving no room for local participation. However, Ezealor (2002),
Aminukano and Marguba (2002), stated that protection of habitats and species
has long been practiced by various cultures in Nigeria through their
preservation of groves and other distinctive habitats for religious, ceremonial
and hunting purposes. Marguba (2002), further reported that Nigeria’s first
modern forest reserves were created in 1887. The first forestry act enacted in
1937 established the forest reserve system under the state government. A more
comprehensive forest law was latter established in 1956 – the law of
preservation and control of eastern Nigeria. By 1950 forest reserves covered
about 8% of the country’s land area and gradually rose to 11% by 1980.
Thereafter, an apparent inability to formulate policies and.....
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