Adaptive strategies to deforestation among Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPS) collectors across gender line in Oluwa Forest Reserve Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

O.J Aluko,A.O Bobadoye,A.A Adejumo

doi:10.4314/as.v19i2.8

Abstract

Forest and the goods and services they provide are essential for human livelihood and wellbeing. An assessment on the likely impact of deforestation on NTFPs along gender line is therefore imperative for effective adaptations for NTFPs collectors. The study examined the adaptive strategies to deforestation stress employed among NTFPs collectors across gender line in Oluwa Forest Reserve area of Ondo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of well-structured interview schedule on 181 NTFPs collectors (94 males and 87 females) and analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The data targeted socio-economic characteristics, level of availability of (NTFPs) in the mist of deforestation currently and 30 years ago as well as adaptive strategiesemployed by the respondents in the study area. Findings revealed that average age of male and female respondents were 48 and 43 years, respectively. Bitter Kola, Kola Nut, Mango and Walnut were NTFPs available in abundant 30 years ago. In recent years, the study discovered that only Mango and Walnut were available in excess despite persistent deforestation in the study area. Deforestation impacted more on female collectors compared to their men counterpart. The finding also shows that female collectors employed more of domesticated NTFPs and indigenous protection methods as adaptive strategies against deforestation. The study recommended training on scientific domesticated system of planting (NTFPs) for both male and female NTFPs collectors as well as community policing to cope against deforestation in the study area. Key words: adaptive strategies, deforestation, non-timber forest products (NTFPs), gender

Highlights

Forest resources provide ample goods and services ranging from timber and non-timber products
There has been a dearth of information on the adaptation of deforestation along gender line. It is against this backdrop that this study examined the adaptive strategies of deforestation among Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) collectors across gender line in Oluwa Forest Reserve Area of Ondo State, Nigeria
The mean age of male and female respondents was 48 and 43 years, respectively. This suggests that that the age distribution is not different across gender as they both fall within the middle age category. This finding is in congruence with Dau and Elisha (2014) that NTFPs gatherers falls within the middle age bracket

Summary

Introduction

Forest resources provide ample goods and services ranging from timber and non-timber products. These products serve as the sources of livelihood and food security for the dwellers living within and around forest reserves area of developing countries of subSahara Africa. The NTFPs have been found to play an important role in the livelihood of rural communities (Odebiyi and Ogunjobi, 2003; Jimoh and Adebisi, 2005; Balogun et al, 2014). Ikoji et al (2003) noted that most rural households meet their immediate needs through the collection of NTFPs. Nigeria is one of the most forested countries in West Africa, with 445 gazetted reserves and the forest canopy occupy about 10 million ha representing almost 10% of the total land area of 92,376,700 hectares (FAO, 2015). The gazetted reserves are categorized into forest reserves, free area, game reserves and national parks, all spread across six geopolitical zones of the country

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