PERCEPTION OF FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEPLETION OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFPS) AMONG KUDA GANGARA FOREST RESERVE DWELLERS IN JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the perceptions of forest reserve dwellers in Kuda Gangara Forest Reserve, Jigawa State, Nigeria, regarding the factors responsible for the depletion of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and timber products. Data were collected through participatory appraisal, focus group discussions, transect walks, and household questionnaires administered to 364 randomly selected household heads out of a proposed 375. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to identify the key drivers of forest resource depletion in the study area. The demographic analysis revealed a predominantly male population (80.77%), with 75.56% of respondents being married and 41.21% falling within the 40-45 age bracket. Occupational trends shifted from forest resource collection (46.67%) to farming (53.33%) due to resource depletion. The study identified human influences (60.35% of variance), unsustainable harvesting practices, and environmental factors as primary drivers of NTFP depletion. Other factors included poverty, population growth, agricultural intensification, and lack of monitoring. The findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions promoting sustainable forest management and livelihood development, considering the demographic characteristics and interrelated factors driving forest resources depletion. The study's findings underscore the importance of addressing human influences, unsustainable harvesting practices, and environmental factors to mitigate non-timber forest product depletion. Targeted policy interventions promoting sustainable forest management and livelihood development are implied in the study to address the specific needs and challenges of forest-dependent communities.