WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR AFFORESTATION AMONG NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCT DEPENDENT HOUSEHOLDS IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/aasd.vol4no1.97Keywords:
Willingness to pay, afforestation practices and Non- tree forest products (NTFPs)Abstract
Following the high deforestation rates in most rural communities in Nigeria and the need to sustain livelihoods of rural households, this study used a sample of 150 Non-Timber Forest Products Dependent (NTFPD) households selected randomly through a multi-stage sampling procedure using questionnaire to estimate willingness to pay for afforestation practices in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data collected was analyzed using simple percentages, means, Likert Scale Rating and Logistic Regression. Findings revealed that majority (60.7%) of respondents were males, 47.3% were married with a mean family size, farm size, age and educational attainment of 5 persons, 0.87 hectares, 39 years and 12 years, respectively. The major drivers of deforestation were economic factors such as poverty, population growth (97.3%), fuel wood consumption (93.3%), demand for forest products, (92%), urban expansion, (89.3%), agricultural production/expansion, (86.7%), illegal logging of trees for timber, (84%), mining and other exploration activities, (81.3%), forest conversion to settlement (77.3%), Others include unsustainable forest use (70.7%), weak forest laws and enforcement capacity (64%), forest fire (55.3%), political factors (14%) and ignorance (9.3%). Result also showed that 61.3% of respondents were willing to pay for afforestation practices while 38.7% were not willing to pay. The mean amount that each household was willing to pay per year and per month was N21,469.20 and N1,789.1, respectively. Result of the Logistic regression revealed that willingness to pay was significantly influenced by past awareness, access to extension services, monthly income, major occupation, education and age of household head. Additionally, adoption of sustainable afforestation practices was constrained by several factors. Hence, awareness and sensitization campaigns should be intensified by government and forest stakeholders to educate respondents on the benefit of afforestation as this will go a long way to change their perception.
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