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ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to evaluate the impact of extant laws in mitigating forest offences in Edo State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of forest offences on the forests of Edo State and to evaluate how forest laws have fared from 1980 to date. Data were collected using well-structured questionnaire and oral interview. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics e.g. frequency and percentages which were summarized in tables and charts as well as ANOVA. The results revealed that (43.5%) of the respondents have worked for 10 years, followed by 11 – 20 (29%), and (20.2%), (7.2%) for 21 – 30 and above 30 years respectively. The results showed a significant difference (P>0.05) among the regularly occurring forest offences with illegal farming dominating as the most occurring forest offence. The respondents also affirmed that most forest offences were committed seasonally. Greed (58%) which was identified as the major cause of forest offence: other causes identified were impunity, corruption, and over dependence on forest resources which accounted for 22, 10, and 9%. Findings show that unbiased trial always takes place in the court of law and that inadequate logistics were the most critical challenge faced by forest officers. It is therefore recommended that government should provide adequate logistics to ensure proper monitoring of resources and farmers act Efforts should be made to fast-track court cases. Offenders when found guilty should be jailed or made to pay heavy fines to serve as a deterrent to other.
