Perception Of Environmental Issues By Fuelwood Sellers In Borgu Local Government Area Of Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine fuelwood sellers' perception of environmental issues in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. A total of 120 fuelwood sellers supplied primary data on their socio-economic characteristics, sources of information on environmental issues, tree species commanding high patronage and perception of environmental issues. More than half of the respondents fall within the age of 31-40 years (53%), 63.3% were females, 87.5% were married and 61% had no formal education while 51% obtained information on environmental issues from radio and television. The results further indicated that Detarium microcarpum, Vitellaria paradoxa, Crossopteryx febrifuga, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Combretum nigricans and Isoberlinia doka were the tree species commanding high patronage in the study area. Also, the
fuelwood sellers have adequate information on environmental issues not only in their locality but globally. The study concluded that since they are fully aware of the consequences of their activities on the environment, they should be involved in the design of policies aimed at reducing the rate of extraction of fuelwood in the area.

Keywords: Perception, fuelwood, fuelwood sellers, environmental issues, tree species

Journal of Environmental Extension Vol. 7 2008: pp. 43-47