No abstract

Forest land use among farming households in Nigeria contributes adverse environment effect. The study assessed adoption and the cost implication of sustainable forest land use (agroforestry practices) among farming households in Nigeria forest reserves. A total of 300 farming households were randomly sampled using a multistage sampling technique. It was revealed that household size (p<0.01), non-farm income (p<0.01) and current farm debt (p<0.01) are main factors that exert influence on choice of agroforestry systems and consequently cost of carbon sequestration. The cost estimate of carbon sequestration among households revealed that the lowest cost of carbon sequestration was recorded from boundary planting system of agroforestry. If a total of 55 Mg C is sequestered per hectare per year, carbon would be sold as low as N1,498.9 ≡$3.9. It was observed that planting trees haphazardly on farm plot will leave carbon sequestration cost at a range of $11.5 and $144. Likewise, hedgerow intercropping will yield a cost range of $63.5 and $38. The study therefore concludes that, boundary planting of trees around farm land provides a low cost of achieving carbon sequestration while addressing unhealthy forest land use among farming households in Nigeria.

Although more of forest land has been converted to cultivated land among rural farm households in many developing countries however, the primary cause of change is yet to be fully understood. Thus, the reason why many policies developed to curtail the damage has failed. The paper proposed the need to carefully investigate the main primary cause of forest land use change through a detailed approach, to enable policy makers understand the right approach to ensure forest conservation. This will help to understand how, and the extent to which farm households contributes to forest land use change other than considering them as the primary agent particularly, in Nigeria.

The study examined factors determining forest land use decisions among rural farm households in south-western Nigeria. Primary data on socio-economic and community characteristics as well as land use systems were obtained from 300 farm households using a structured questionnaire through a multistage sampling technique. The study revealed that marital status (P < 0.01), gender (P < 0.01), land tenure security (P < 0.01), dominant crop type (P < 0.05), and preference for tree on farm land (P < 0.01) are factors influencing forest land use decision in either agroforestry, pure cultivation or in both practices. Land use choice proportion estimation shows that 63 % are still willing to retain their existing land use practice (pure cultivation). A total of 32 % are willing to shift completely from their existing land use practice while 4 % of the respondents are willing to practice both “agroforestry and pure cultivation” simultaneously. The study therefore suggests the need for a change in forest land use policy, particularly, with a view influence the pattern of use, limitation on type of crop that can be grown, and compliance to sustainable land use practice. This would go a long way in driving forest land use towards agroforestry – a practice identified as a means of ensuring food security while ensuring safe environment.