Effect of stakeholders’ involvement in forest policy implementation in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of involvement of stakeholders in forest policy formulation and implementation in South-west Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The primary data was  collected through the use of structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions to gather relevant data  from the forest stakeholders in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States of South-west Nigeria. The  respondents were made up of Forest Officers, Saw-millers, Timber Contractors and Forest Community. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that only 16% of the saw-millers and little above 10.0% of the timber contractors indicated that they were involved in decision-making processes as regards the forest reserves. 30.3% of the respondents in forest community indicated that they were involved in decision-making. In all, 35.0 % of the Forestry Officials, 32.0 % among the Sawmillers, 34.0 % among the Timber   Contractors and 41.0 % among the rural people in the forest reserves perceive the forestry policy   implementation as adequate. There is need for adequate involvement of stakeholders in policy formulation towards sustainable forest management. It is recommended that the nation reviewed its existing forest policy and approves a unified National Forest Policy in line with the emerging forest issues as well as sustainably  manages the forest estate.