POTENTIAL FOR PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE IN COMMUNITY FORESTS CONSERVATION IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

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POTENTIAL FOR PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE IN COMMUNITY FORESTS CONSERVATION IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Certification                                                                                                                ii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                      iv

Table of Contents                                                                                                       v

List of Tables                                                                                                              viii

List of Acronyms                                                                                                        ix

Abstract                                                                                                                      x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION                                                                    1

Background of Study                                                               1

Statement of the Problem                                                                       4

Objectives of the Study                                                                        6

Research Hypotheses                                                               7

Justification                                                                                      7

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW                                                      9

2.1Deforestation in Nigeria                                                                                        9

2.2 Nigeria Forestry Policy                                                                                         11

2.3 Forest Management and Conservation in Nigeria                 13

2.4 Sustainable Forest Management in Nigeria                 16

2.5 The Concept of Participatory Forest Management        17

2.6 Rational For Participatory Forest Management                       18

2.7 Incentives for Local People in Participatory Forest Management      21

2.8 The Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge                                       23

2.9 Theoretical Framework                                                                 25

2.10 Analytical Framework                                                        27

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY                                                             31

3.1 Study Area                                                                                                            31

3.2 Sample Procedure                                                                                                 32

3.3 Method of Data Collection                                                                                   33

3.4 Method of Data Analysis                                                                                     33

3.5 Model Specification                                                                                              33

3.5.1 Probit Model                                                                                                      33

3.5.2 Likert Scale Rating Techniques                                                         35

3.5.3 Contingent Valuation Method                                                  35

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS                                         37

4.0 Socio-economic Characteristics of the Respondents            37

4.1.1 Age Distribution of Respondents                                          37

4.1.2 Sex of Respondents                                                                                           38

4.1.3 Educational Level of Respondents                                38

4.1.4 Annual Income of Respondents                                             39

4.1.5 Occupation of Respondents                                                       39

4.1.6 Respondents Household Size                                            40

4.1.7 Respondent Usage of Forest                                                                             40

4.1.8 Environmental Problem                                                          41

4.1.9 Types of Forest                                                                                                  42

4.1.10 Deforestation Pattern                                                    43

4.1.11 Intensity of Forest Management Practices                 44

4.1.12 Factors Affecting Respondent Perception to the Use of PFMS   47

4.1.13 Probit Model Result on Perception                                     48

4.1.14 Probit Model Result for WTP (Variable Explanation)     50

4.1.15 Empirical Analysis for WTP                                                 51

4.1.16 Constraints to Establishment of PFMS                                52

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION 56

5.1 Summary of Findings                                                                                           56

5.2 Conclusion                                                                                                            57

5.3 Recommendation                                                                                                  58

REFERENCES                                                                                                        60

Appendix I: Questionnaire                                             68

LIST OF TABLES

Table                                                                                                                          Page4.1Frequency distribution of respondent according to age   37

4.2 Frequency distribution of respondent with regard to sex      38

4.3 Frequency distribution of respondent according to educational status    38

4.4 Frequency distribution of respondents according to annual income level     39

4.5 Frequency distribution of respondents with regard to occupation     39

4.6 Frequency distribution of respondents according to household size     40

4.7 Frequency distribution of respondents with regard to forest usage   40

4.8 Frequency distribution of respondents by types of environmental problem  41

4.9 Distribution of respondents by type of forest               42

4.10 Frequency distribution of respondents by deforestation pattern 43

4.11 Result of Intensity of forest management practices                       46

4.12 Variable explanation for respondents perception                        47

4.13 Probit model result on perception of PFMS                    48

4.14 Variable explanation for WTP for PFMS                            50

4.15 Empirical analysis for WTP for PFMS                             51

4.16 Constraints to the use of PFMS                                                              53

LIST OF ACRONYMS

PFMS        –                             Participatory forest management structure

NTFP        –                             Non Timber Forest Products

FAO         –                              Food and Agriculture organization

WTP        –                              Willingness to Pay

IK            –                              Indigenous Knowledge

CVM      –                               Contingent valuation model

Abstract

Many forest reserves in the country were originally set up in recognition of the importance of forest. However, management of existing forest land is appalling. In recent years, there have been high rate of deforestation in Bayelsa state. There is therefore a need for proper management of forest and its resources. The study analysed the potential for the use of participatory forest management structure in the conservation of forest resources in Bayelsa state using a sample size 150 respondents that were obtained using a multistage sampling technique. Three out of the eight local government areas in Bayelsa state (Ogbia, Yenagoa and Ekeremor) each reflecting the three agricultural zones. Interviewed schedules and structured questionnaire were administered to elicit information from the respondents. Data gotten from both primary and secondary sources were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics which include: frequencies, means, percentages, probit regression model and likert rating scale. As regard the socio economic characteristics of the respondent, the result shows that majority  (66.25%) were male while most(40.8%) of them were in the age bracket of 41 – 50 years, closely followed by 31 – 40 years (23.1%),

Also, household size was majorly(40%) in the bracket of 5 – 8, with a mean household size of 7. Educationally, majority (47.0%) attended primary school, while 5.4% attended higher education. The results reveal that the fresh water swamp forest represent the highest concentration of forest in the locality. This was closely followed by mangrove forest (23.1%) and the riparian forest (15.4%). Most of the management practices were not observed, thus leaving the forest in a grave situation. However findings reveal that traditional oriented management was actively practiced although in a limited proportion. As regard the perception of the local people to the use of P.F.M.S for forest management, four out of the nine variables used in the probit regression showed positive and significant contribution to the variation in the perception of the use PFMS.  These include; educational status, occupation, benefit from forest and as mechanism for conflict resolution. These factors help in explaining the variability in the perception of the people in the use of PFMS. The other variable; environmental problem and annual income were positive but not significant. In terms of the willingness to pay, three of the eight variables tested showed positive coefficient and were significant. These were, age, forest benefit, and gender. The likert rating scale indicates that some constraints such as lack of funds, insufficient education/publicity, lack of political will, corruption, lack of well trained staffs came out top in the ranking of challenges or constraints to the establishment of PFMS. It was therefore recommended that traditional resources management should be promoted more so as it gives the local people the opportunity to partake in forest management and also the diversification of the economy so as to divert the attention of the rural dwellers on the excessive exploitation of the forest. 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

            The term forest embraces a large variety of landscapes vegetation formation and ecosystem (Obot, 1997).  Forest contains a number of natural resources which develop their distinctive value, when wisely used and harnessed in a sustainable way or acquire environmental threat characteristic when over exploited. Nigeria forest, like elsewhere in the world are important for the ecosystem services they provide, including watershed protection, climate control, and animal species (Nigerian environmental analysis 2002). This forest also provides valuable commercial timber sources and other commercially harvested products such as resin, spices, rattan and many more. The rural populace also benefit largely from forest resources as a source for fuel wood and building materials and for a myriad of non tree forest products (NTFP) with various uses as food, flavouring, medicines, various domestic use and also in some case for their traditional values.

            Before independence, the available forest resources could adequately cater for the country’s requirement, both to meet the export and local consumption. However, after independence, there was pressure on the forest resources to generate income to support the young economy and meet the need of the ever increasing population (EC-FAO 2003). The bulk of the forest and forest resources that remained hitherto relatively undisturbed until the 1980, have been lost in the last two decades. In 1992, forest accounted for only 9.61% (8.874.225.ha) of Nigeria’s total land area measuring about 923,768,000ha. Okonta (1998) noted that during the period 1980, it was estimated that 43.48% of the total forest ecosystem had been converted to other uses as a result of human activities. Current estimates put the rate of forest depletion at 3.3% per year (FAO, 2005). Based on this, it has been estimated that the country will lose all her forest by the year 2020. FORMECU (1994) projected the yield from the forest estates between the year 2000 and 2010, putting it at a total of 8273m2 for 2000 and 7316m2 for 2010, implying that less wood resources would be available from the forest in the future if the current deforestation rate is sustained. Forest production has fallen, creating an imbalance between supply and demand. From its previous status as a significant exporter of forest products Nigeria has become a net importer (Status of tropical forest management, 2003). The continued loss of Nigeria’s tropical forest has taken its toll on the county’s biodiversity resources. Nigeria has a diverse collection of flora and fauna, including 274 species of mammals, 830 species of birds and 5,081 plant species out of which 0.14% of the animal species is threatened and 0.22% is endangered. Similarly, the estimated 70% of the rural poor are in great danger as it has been established that the poorest often suffer most from the consequence of environmental degradation as a result of their immediate dependence on the natural resource base for their necessities (Soussan, 1998).

In an attempt to bring to a halt, the deplorable state of forestry in Nigeria, forest reserves were constituted in the early twenties and communities in the past never tempered with the reserves as they obeyed and respected the law that forbade any form of encroachment into the reserves (Amika, 1993). This was partly due to low population density. But with increased local population, migration, land hunger, cash squeeze, food scarcity and awareness, people’s attention turned to the forest. Together, the national parks cover about 22,592 km2, which is about 2.5% of the country’s landmass. They are owned and managed exclusively by the federal government hence, leaving no room for local participation. However,  Ezealor (2002),  Aminukano and Marguba (2002),  stated that protection of habitats and species has long been practiced by various cultures in Nigeria through their preservation of groves and other distinctive habitats for religious, ceremonial and hunting purposes. Marguba (2002), further reported that Nigeria’s first modern forest reserves were created in 1887. The first forestry act enacted in 1937 established the forest reserve system under the state government. A more comprehensive forest law was latter established in 1956 – the law of preservation and control of eastern Nigeria. By 1950 forest reserves covered about 8% of the country’s land area and gradually rose to 11% by 1980. Thereafter, an apparent inability to formulate policies and implement led to the current situation whereby even protected areas are being de-reserved. Also these forest reserves have been seriously neglected and received little or no improvement in terms of investment and management.

            Failure of most conservation schemes necessitates scholars and policy makers’ reconsideration of the role of community in resource management, as there is a real danger of worsening social conflict and degradation fueled by over exploitation of natural resources. The tropical timber organization defines sustainable forest management as the process of managing forest land to achieve one or more clearly specified objectives of management with regards to the production of a continued flow of desired forest products and services without undue reduction in its inherent values and future productivity and without undue undesirable effects on the physical and social environment (Babier, 2005).

            Current discourse governing community based conservation policy emphasizes the role of community in bringing about decentralization, meaningful participation and effective conservation (Fisher, 1999). Hence there is need to evolve resource management mechanism that could arrest the decline in future of resources and for the mechanism to attained full objectives, they must be community based. Feyerabrand and Taronwski (2005), argued that participatory management is a partnership among social actors with legitimate interest, capacities and commitment regarding the natural resources of the state with term of partnership specifying management factors of all the component body. 

            In Nigeria, Enugu and Cross River States have taken giant steps to combat deforestation by establishing a forest management committee involving local communities in the management of reserve areas. Wily (2002), stated that the first initiative was the Ekuri community initiative which began in 1992 in Cross River State. Both reserved and unreserved forest is getting involved in community forest initiative.

Ogar (2008), asserted that the concept of participatory forest management committee in Cross River State is yielding significant results. However, the same cannot be said of Bayelsa State which bestrides much of Africa’s largest wetland, and Nigeria’s thriving petroleum business but has no formalized properly managed forest or wood industry (Azaki, 2003). The forests are extensive and are often regarded as inexhaustible with the result that little attention is given to conserving of these resources. Ogon (2006), states that natural resources found in the region presently suffers from the well known “tragedy of the Commons” as the right of access is collectively shared creating room for competition without rules of engagement. It has been estimated that about 50% of mangroves in Nigeria have been lost as a result of deforestation (World Resources, 1990).  Hence, there is need for government and other stakeholders to work together so as to salvage the forest from total extinction.

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