Forestland-dependent households: a primary agent of deforestation in Nigeria?

Despite global concerns on environment particularly, issues on deforestation, there is a lack of quantitative information on deforestation drivers. The study investigates the role of farm households in deforestation process in Nigeria. Household survey data were obtained from 300 farm households with the aid of personally administered questionnaire through a multistage sampling technique. The data were used to answer a question on how farmers contribute to deforestation process in Nigeria. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Probit regression model. The results show that 64 % of the farmers gain access to cultivate already opened forestland through uncoordinated harvesting of forest trees while others still maintain sustainable forest land use practice – agroforestry. Sex (P < 0.05; β = 2.34), land security (P < 0.01; β = 2.94), personal preference for tree on farm land (P < 0.05; β = −2.45), and non-farm income (P < 0.05; β = 2.50) are factors influencing land use pattern among farm households. The study revealed that most farmers cultivate open forestland, but their continuous cultivation further enhanced forestland use change. The study concludes that rural farm households though one of the agents of forestland use change were found as opportunist and not mostly the primary agent initiating forestland use change in Nigeria. The study negates the conception of several past studies.