Intl. J. of Mol. Ecol. and Conserv. 2012, Vol. 2, No.1, 21-25
http://ijmec.sophiapublisher.com
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Table 3 Evaluation of combined benefits derived from the reserve
Benefit
Grades
A
B
C
D
E
F
Total values
2
1
27
39
31
33
77
73
15558
2
7
9
4
6
4
4
214
3
3
1
9
5
2
1
121
4
22
25
34
21
1
2
2711
5
7
14
10
9
6
4
478
6
34
12
12
26
10
16
2476
Total
100
100
100
100
100
100
Note:
Benefit: A: Firewood collection; B: Snail gathering; C: Medicinal plant collection; D: Leaves collection; E: Hunting activities; F:
Geological material extraction; Grades: 1: Insignificant; 2: Significant; 3: More significant; 4: Important; 5: Very important; 6: Indispensible
The household size of the respondents ranged from 1
to 8. The respondents that constitute the majority were
household size of 5 to 6 with 44%, followed by those
with 3 to 4 having 38%. Also, 13% have household
size of 1 to 2 and 5% have household size of 7 to 8.
Furthermore on education, majority 52% of the
respondents had no formal education, 25% had
Primary education, while 16% had Secondary education
and only 7% of the respondents had Tertiary education.
4.1
Multiple benefits derived from the reserve
Neighbourhood and non neighbourhood respondents
derived benefits from the reserve. The benefits were
firewood, snail, medicinal plants, leaves collection,
hunting and geological material extraction. Table 3
shows the evaluation of combined benefits derived
from the reserve. The results showed the analysis of
the Benefits: 1- firewood, is the most dominant use,
followed by Benefit (D), that is, Teak leaves
collection and then medicinal plant collection (C),
snail gathering, geological material collection and
the least is hunting activities.
4.2
Perception and implication
The perception of respondents was measured through
variables that expressed understanding of respondents
on benefits derivable from the forest. Table 4 shows
the perception of the respondents through likert rating.
The mean values and standard deviation of the
variables showed the significance of the variables.
All the variables showed positive mean values ranging
from 1.3 to 2.84. The standard deviation also range
from 0.75 to 1.66. The values indicate that respondents
derive benefits from the forest reserve. These findings
collaborate previous researchers (Walsh et al., 2005;
Abulude, 2004, in press; Akinyemi and Oduntan, 2004)
that argued that Forest and Wildlife resources supports
the upliftment of living standard of people in Nigeria,
especially in the rural area.
Conclusion
The study revealed that Arakanga Forest Reserve is
important to the livelihoods of the people living
around the reserve. Therefore, Arakanga Forest
Reserve provides a multiplicity of goods and services
for the respondents. A reasonable percentage, 24%
were involved in firewood collection and 21% in
Leaves collection. Furthermore, respondents generate
income from different forest activities (such as
Firewood collection, Snail gathering, Leaves
collection, Medicinal plant collection, and Hunting
activities). Wages were received by government
employees of the reserve under the Department of
Forestry. Also, some respondents generate income
from Geological material. The evaluation of combined
benefits derived from the reserve shows that firewood
collection is the most promising with the dominant
use in the reserve. On sustainable livelihoods,
perception variables showed positive mean values
with the standard deviation and consequently
indicated significance. However without contradiction,
poverty exists in the communities and villages
surrounding Arakanga Forest Reserve where the
research was carried out and therefore, residents of
these villages relied on the forest reserve for various
purposes. Consequently, attempts should be made in
improving the current state of the reserve for more
contribution to the lives of people living in the area.