Wildlife harvesting from the Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna, Nigeria: The prosperity–posterity crossroad

Abstract

This study examined the harvesting of wildlife from the Afaka Forest Reserve from the standpoint of economic benefits and sustainability. The data for this study were collected using questionnaire and interview in 2017 from eight communities around the Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling approach was adopted to collect data from 134 respondents who harvest wildlife from the Reserve. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, and Gini Index analysis.  The findings revealed that wildlife incomes from animals like rabbits, porcupines, bats, and monitor lizards contributed 18.41% of total incomes of communities living around the Afaka Forest Reserve in Kaduna State in 2015. Sixty-one percent of the respondents harvested wildlife at least once in a week. Gross margin was highest in porcupine harvesting (N26, 872.73) while the highest return per Naira invested (N8.02) accrued to harvesting of insects. The average gross margin was N10, 610.86 while average return on investment was N2.35. Wildlife income had a reducing effect on income inequality as the marginal effect of wildlife income on Gini index of total income was -0.0883 meaning a 10% increase in wildlife incomes reduces inequality by about 0.9%. The study recommends that wildlife harvesting regulations which curb indiscriminate harvesting should be enforced alongside continuous sensitization of communities on the importance of sustainable harvesting practices towards a balanced prosperity-posterity equation.