Abstract:

Abstract This paper examined multiple use benefits and land cover protection of a peri urban forest in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. A total of 100 respondents were selected from 4 communities (rural dwellers) living close to the forest. Stratified random sampling approach was used for the study with each community representing a stratum and 25 respondents randomly selected from each community. The results revealed that majority of the respondents were female (53%), married (86%) with no formal education (52%) and forest exploitation cut across all ages with age class 41-50 year-old dominating. The dominating household size (7-8) was prominent in the exploitation of the forest. Items exploited from the forest include firewood, medicinal plants, leaves, snails, bush meat and geological materials. The annual income of respondents ranged between N60,000-N240,000 with 43% of the respondents in this category. Forest contribution to total income in the area was low (15-18%), while contribution to ecosystem services was not evaluated. Despite this, all the respondents were involved in the exploitation of the forest resources (100%). Thus, the forest was regarded as a community forest, a concept not well accepted in Nigeria but put into practice in the study area. Therefore, there is need to protect the forest because of the support to livelihood and the environment. Consequently, respondents indicated participation in protecting the vegetation to ensure sustainable exploitation. It is therefore recommended that devolutionary governance of peri urban forests must be encouraged in Nigeria and other developing countries to strengthen decision making by involving resident communities. This will go a long way in ensuring land reform that will improve tenure security of the rural communities and thereby reduce inter and intra community conflicts for peaceful co-existence.

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