Determinants of Household Participation in Social Forestry in Selected Arid Zone States of Northern Nigeria

 Abayomi Oloruntoba ¹ &  O. Adetokunbo Adeola ²

Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
e-mail: yomitoba@hotmail.com

Professor and Dean, College of Agriculture, Igbinedion University, Okada, Nigeria
e-mail: aoadeola2003@yahoo.co.uk
 

Abstract

Cross-section data was used to examine characteristics of social forestry activities from 145 farm families in selected arid zone States of Borno, Kano and Sokoto, Nigeria. Findings show that participation was positively affected by both demographic and spatial variables. More older and educated rural households with larger farm size of >10 hectares participated more in social forestry activities. Furthermore, marital status, income and infrastructure asset increase the probability of household participation. Spatially, participation of men was higher than women in tree planting, weeding, harvesting and protection. Women engaged in priorities related to processing, sales and fuel wood collection. The study recommends that alleviating excessively threatened environment requires active participation of local communities in natural resources management.

Keywords: social forestry, arid zone, participation, gender, Nigeria