Abstract
Despite the significant contributions of NTFPs to the livelihood of the people there is no clear policy directed at its exploitation in the country. It is considered as minor or secondary forest products. In addition the management of many NTFPs has been neglected over the years by foresters and economic planners. Hence NTFPs have not been developed. Its management has been restricted to the local people and urban poor. It is however important that if the contribution of NTFPs to rural livelihood is to be improved, then access to it and its exploitation needs to be properly understood. It is in view of this that this paper takes a look at the theoretical framework concerning Non- timber Forest Products (NTFPs) governance and its role in improving rural livelihood in Nigeria. It shows that NTFP governance has to do with the process of rule and decision making concerning production and marketing of NTFPs. It ensures equity of access and benefits obtainable from the exploitation of NTFPs. In doing this NTFPs governance help to promote sustainable forest management, protect forest resources from destructive use, promote communal peace, improves income earnings of rural dwellers and promotes increased rural well-being with the aim of helping to preserve the forest and by extension help to support rural livelihoods especially primary livelihoods like farming, hunting and fishing.
Highlights
From time immemorial forests have been providing many useful products to man
Non-timber forest product (NTFP) governance is a concept that denotes the process of rule and decision making concerning production and marketing of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs)
It includes a broader societal process based on social practices, values and principles [12]. This process is Adedayo Adesoji Gideon: Non-timber Forest Products Governance for Improved Rural Livelihood in Nigeria characterized by the coexistence of formal and informal institutions based on plural statutory, customary and market norms
Summary
From time immemorial forests have been providing many useful products to man. These products vary from timber products to fruits, ropes, leaves, honey and medicinal products. It is unfortunate that despite the significant roles of NTFPs to rural livelihoods its contributions have been largely neglected by policy makers and development planners. Oyun [3] noted that despite the significant roles of NTFPs, there is no clear policy directed at NTFPs at any level of government in Nigeria. It is considered as minor or secondary forest products. Its management has been restricted to the local people and urban poor It follows that if the contribution of NTFPs to rural livelihood is to be improved, access to it and its exploitation needs to be properly understood. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 2018; 6(1): 12-17 paper tries to provide a clear theoretical framework about NTFPs and their governance with a view to creating a clear understanding about NTFPs that help to improve their exploitation and contribute more to rural livelihood
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