ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to investigate the Attitudes of Adjoining Communities of Okomu Forest Reserve Towards the Collection and Utilization of NTFPs.For this study, a Two-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents from the communities. The first stage used a20% sampling intensity to select 8 from the 42 communities. They were selected based on purposive sampling, as regards to the proximity to the study area and security issues. The selected communities are; Aghobahi, Iguelahor, Urezen, Iguafole, Udo, Mahokhioba, Iguowan and Iguezen communities. The second stage involved a random selection of households and a total of 200 questionnaires were distributed in all the communities, while 178 questionnaires were retrieved. Descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages summarized in tables and charts were used to analyse the data. Results showed 76.4% obtained NTFPs from neighbouring forests while 11.8% cultivated NTFPs in home gardens. 88.2% engaged in NTFP harvesting, predominantly collecting medicinal plants (79.2%), bush meat (79.8%) and snails (84.3%). NTFPs were used for subsistence and commercial purposes including food, medicine, raw materials and income generation. Respondents viewed key species like bush meat, snails and oil palm as highly available. Moderately available species were Irvingia gabonensis, Irvingia wombulu and Treculia africana. NTFPs were considered abundant in forests (mean rating 4.35/5) and important income sources (4.32/5) but perceptions on declining availability were mixed. Major constraints faced were security concerns, anti-poaching regulations, low NTFP domestication, forest degradation and land limitations. The findings indicate high community reliance on NTFPs coupled with variable perceptions on ecological sustainability. A balance is needed between safeguarding livelihoods and long-term conservation through strategies like participatory management, domestication initiatives, sustainable harvesting training and access regulation.
