Effects of deforestation on rural household income in Oyo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effects of deforestation on rural household income in Oyo state, Nigeria. The specific objectives include; identification of the types of livelihood activities; identifying the causes of deforestation; and to determine the effects of deforestation on the household income. A total of one hundred and eighty (180) rural dwellers were interviewed in 2020. We collected the data through the use of questionnaires and focus group discussions analysed the data with descriptive statistics and ordinary least square regression (OLS). The result shows that the majority (85.5%) of the respondents were farmers. The livelihood activities employed by the rural households include the combination of farming with any of charcoal production and livestock rearing (50%); charcoal business (33%); the gathering of non-timber forest products (14%); and artisanal work respectively (3.3%). The major causes of deforestation were farm expansion (55%), charcoal use (20.6%), building construction (11.7%), and lumbering (3.9%). The regression analysis revealed that farm expansion, charcoal business, and lwere found to increase significantly the household income in the study area. The study thereby recommends the adoption of agroforestry for improved livelihoods and to boost household income, energy, food security and this will also reduce deforestation.