ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION OF FOREST RESOURCES FOR POVERTY REDUCTION AMONG FARMERS IN OTUKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study assessed community participation in utilization and conservation of forest resources for poverty reduction among farmers in OtukpoLocal Government Area of Benue State. The study was guide by six (6) research questions; what are the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers in the study area? what are the benefits derived by the farmers from the forest resources? what is the level of participation of the farmers in conservation of the forest resources? what are the farmers’ perceived effects of community participation in conservation of the forest resources on poverty reduction? what are the factors influencing participation in conservation of the forest resources and what are the constraints to participation in conservation of forest resources? Primary data was collected usingquestionnaire administered to 150 farmers were sampled from four districts/villages in the study area. The data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple linear regression). The result of the analysis indicated that 44.70% of the farmers were within the age range of 30 – 49years, 70 and above. Majority (90.00%) of the farmers were males, 61.30% were married, 48.66%had11-20 years of farming experience, Majority of the farmers were educated having one form of formal education or the other. Many benefits were derived from the forest by the respondents, these include product such as meat through hunting (26.67%), firewood (26.00%), fodder for livestock (13.33%) and food through cultivation (1067%). Other benefits/usage derived from the forest are through maintenance and restoration of soil fertility and stability (65.33%), provision of raw materials for crop support (59.33%), provision of raw materials for boats, nets traps, poles, poison and fuel woods for fish preservation (58.00). The perceive effects of community participation in conservation of forest resources includes ensuring sustainable growth and development of the forest (mean vale of 3.74, ranked first), improved level of living of the farmers (respondents) (mean value of 3.71, ranked second) and reduces poverty among the participants (mean value of 3.60, ranked third). Many factors influence the level of participation among the farmers, these include sex and marital status and age which had a significant relationship with the level of participation among the farmers. Amongst the constraints to participation to conservation of forest resources, scarcity of resources (78.67%), followed by inadequate finance to conserve forest resources (46.67%), instability of government policies (40.00%) and inadequate participation by the local people in conservation policies and decisions (26.66%). The study conclude d by establishing that the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers play an important role in the utilization and conservation of forest resources in the area which consequently lead to a significant reduction in the level of poverty.