EVALUATION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN EHOR FOREST RESERVE, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to Evaluate Management Practices in Ehor Forest Reserve, Edo State. 20% sampling intensity was applied to select six communities adjoining Ehor Forest Reserve. Based on 5% and 30% sampling intensities were applied to households and stakeholders respectively, while 40% sampling intensity was allotted to Ehor Forest Reserve staff. A total of 120 copies of questionnaire were distributed to the respondents. Data was collected through primary and secondary means. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency which showed that 30% of the respondents affirmed that Ehor Forest Reserve is in a depleting state, while 28%, 24% and 18% of the respondents affirmed over exploitation, bad state and destroyed respectively. The results showed that majority (53.3%) claimed that there is no effort put in place for regenerating the exploited areas in the reserve, while 46.7% deposed that there was effort put in place to regenerate the exploited area in Ehor Forest Reserve. The results showed that taungya farming (57.1%) was the major method used to regenerate the exploited area in the reserve. Others were reforestation programs (28.6%) and agroforestry (14.3%). The results showed that 53.3% of the respondents affirmed that there is no working effort/ laws put in place in enforcing forest protection in Ehor Forest Reserve. The results showed that 80.5% of the respondents affirmed that communities and stakeholders does not participate in the management of Ehor Forest Reserve. The results showed that inadequate funding (46.7%) was the major problem militating regeneration of exploited area in Ehor Forest Reserve. This was followed by lack of government will (26.7%).  There is very little or no efforts by the State Forestry Department towards regenerating areas exploited in the Reserves. Communities and other stakeholders are not involved in the management of the Forest Reserve.