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EFFECT OF FOREST RESOURCES EXPLOITATION ON ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF FARMING HOUSEHOLDS

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed the effect of forest resources exploitation on economic well-being of farming households. In carrying out the study, five specific objectives and a hypothesis were developed to guide the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 155 rural households from eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Enugu State. Data for the study were obtained from primary source using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistic, multiple regression and F-test were the statistical tools used to analyze the data collected. The results showed that the rural households in the study area engaged in other livelihood activities alongside harvesting of forest resources which was their dominant occupation, to diversify their income. This activity was dominated by male headed households (54.8%). The average age of the household heads was 50years and their level of education was low (mean of 4 years). Also, they had large family size (mean of 7 persons) and many years (mean of 20years) of experience in forest resources extraction activities. They walk an average distance of 10 kilometres from their homestead to the forest. While their average annual income was ₦53,202 average annual forest income was ₦29,261. The forest resources commonly harvested, used and marketed in the study area included bush meat, fuelwood, oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla), bamboo, timber, palm wine, cashew (Anacardium occidentale), oil palm, ogbono (Irvingia gabonensis), mushroom, honey, icheku (Landophia duleisvar), broom, uziza (Piper guinense), utazi (Gongronema latifolain), kolanut (Cola nitida), ube oji (Dacryolis edulis), okazi (Gnetum spp), snail among others. These products which were unevenly distributed in the area were major source of income, food, cosmetics, medicinal materials, construction materials, cooking energy among others. The result of the analysis of the contributions of different sources of income to household income indicated that on the average, forest income share of the total household income was relatively high (55%). The result of the regression analysis showed that gender of household head and household size had a positive and significant (P< 0.01 and P< 0.05 respectively) influence on forest income while annual income had a negative and significant (P< 0.01)  influence on forest income. The F-test confirmed that socio-economic factors had a positive and significant (P< 0.000) effect on forest income of the rural households. Identified factors that constrained the accessing and utilization of forest resources were deforestation (3.93), storage and processing facilities (3.29), poor means of transportation (3.98), lack of extension contacts (3.98), bush burning (3.89), fear of forest and wild animals (2.78), poor harvesting technique (2.65), deterioration (3.08), extinction of plant species (3.70) and insect pest and diseases (3.75). Policies that will regulate forest resources exploitation should be developed to lower household dependence on forest based income.