Economic Benefits of Non-Timber Forest Products Among Rural Communities in Nigeria

Abstract

<p>Non-Timber Forest Products provide enormous benefits to rural dwellers in Nigeria. These are open-access resources which are often exploited with limited restraints and therefore stand the risk of abuse and over-exploitation by the gatherers. This study therefore examined the various benefits and uses of some of these non-timber forest products in the rural communities. There are 750 samples for the study and data were collected by simple random sampling technique. Descriptive and budgetary analytical methods were used. Results indicated that the annual total revenue from snails/mushrooms/teak leaves was the largest while the least revenue was obtained from mushroom. The total annual gross margin was highest for snails/mushrooms/teak leaves combinations and was least for mushrooms.The net income is also highest for snails/mushrooms/teak leaves combination and was least for mushrooms alone.The estimated values for the rate of return on investment and profitability index for snails/mushrooms/teak leaves stood at 11.62 and 0.92 respectively. Rural dwellers need to protect and preserve the natural forests so that they can sustainably harvest the non-timber forest products for the advancement of their socio-economic status.</p

Incorporation of Socio-Cultural Values in Damage Assessment Valuations of Contaminated Lands in the Niger Delta

“…In response to the lost income due to contamination of the environment, 80% of the respondents stated that they were earning between N550,000 and N750,000 (averaging about N650,000 per annum) before the oil spill. This contrasts with the findings of Ezebilo and Mattson [36] for Okwangwo community in Cross Rivers State where the average income from NTPF was N19,977 per annum and the findings of Akanni [21] for states in the south-west of Nigeria where a total income of N2,053,738 was reported for a combination of snails, mushrooms and teak leaves. While the Cross River State location is a remote rural neighbourhood, the south-west region is an agrarian region with a lot of commercial agriculture.…”

“…When asked to state the composition of this income, about 75% of the respondents stated that 30% of their annual income is ascribed to NTFPs and 70% to fishing; this compares to 12.6% in Cross River State, 25% in the Brazillian Amazon and 28% in Anddhra Pradesh in India, reported by Ezebilo and Mattson [36]. The respondents stated that NTFPs are mostly gathered by the women members of the community and that the incomes stated were total household incomes, corroborating Akanni [21], and stressed that part of the loss in income is due to the desecration of their shrines which ensured high yields in their occupation. This meant that the absence of any value due to desecration in the valuer's computation was part of the reason why the community felt the values were very inadequate.…”

“…NTFPs consist of naturally grown stocks of forest resources, which could be processed either for household consumption or for local and external trade by the forest users. They include a wide range of edibles and non-edibles such as fruits, seeds, leaves, nuts, bush meat, roots, tubers, fibres, resins, latex, sticks, ropes, and construction materials like bamboos and rattans and a host of others (Akanni, [21]). There are the spiritual and cultural values of NTFPs and of forest resources in general.…”

“…The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation [20] defines NTFPs as products of biological origin other than wood derived from forests, other wooded land and trees outside forests, gathered from the wild, or produced in forest plantations, agroforestry schemes and from trees outside forests. Akanni [21] defines NTFPs as consisting of naturally grown stocks of forest resources which could be processed either for household consumption or for local and external trade by the forest users. They include a wide range of edibles and non-edibles such as fruits, seeds, leaves, nuts, bush meat, roots, tubers, fibres, resins, latex, sticks, ropes, and construction materials like bamboos and rattans and a host of others.…”

How much money grows on trees: case of Asian Region

“…All of these and others as well are directly obtained from forest ecosystem for the use of man. NTFPs are also utilized as fodders, fertilizers, fibers, medicinal extracts, cosmetics and cultural products, natural dyes, tannin, gums and other exudates (Akanni, 2013). forest uses, such as recreation, tourism and biodiversity have increased importance, and they can provide alternative income and employment opportunities for local economy. People seek a variety of recreational experiences during their leisure time and forests provide a myriad of opportunities for recreation and tourism (IFA).…”