Rural Households\' Involvement In Social Forestry Practices In Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Social forestry practice is an emerging concept in which rural people engage in tree farming for their own benefit. Rural households in Nigeria have not been able to embrace social forestry because the potentials of planted forests and agro-forestry to alleviate socio-environmental problems are not well understood. The involvement of rural household in social forestry practices in Imo State, Nigeria was evaluated. A structured questionnaire was administered on 80 randomly selected respondents to elicit information on social forestry practices. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed a low level of involvement in social forestry practices. The involvement in social forestry practice is hampered by problems related to land acquisition, lack of funds, information flow, ignorance of importance of social forestry to the rural community. Suggestions were made to address fundamental strategies that can improve the introduction, adoption and operation of social forestry in the study area.

Keywords: Rural households, social forestry practices, involvement

Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 98-107