By: AGBEJA B. O.; OTESILE A. A.;
Abstract:
The study examined the clash of interests between custodians of government Forest Reserves (FRs) in Ogun State and farmers operating within them. Information on the causes and effects of these clashes would better inform policy makers and forestry professionals on workable and sustainable land-use practice. Therefore, factors responsible for such conflicts and their effects were investigated through questionnaire administration to elicit the views of 750 randomly selected farmers from 72 enclaves. This represents 30% of the total number of enclaves in the nine FRs in the State. In addition, 30% of staff of the State Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of Agriculture (72 and 32 respectively) were randomly selected for questionnaire administration. Furthermore, 30% (32) of the timber contractors operating within the FRs were randomly selected for interview using an interview schedule. Data were collected on existence, causes and effects of conflicts and extent of land hunger. Secondary data were obtained from journals and reports from the State Ministry of Forestry. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit model at p<0.05. Among the farmers, descriptive statistics revealed that 74.3% had unauthorized access to FRs, 68.1% were resident within FRs while 55.4% utilized lands approved by government for farming. Also, results of logit regression analysis revealed that the location of FRs where farmers operate (odds ratio = 2.39), rights of farmers to use forestland for farming (odds ratio = 2.19) and farm size (odds ratio = 1.52) are factors that are likely to cause conflicts over the use of forest lands in Ogun state. Furthermore, analysis of timber contractors’ response revealed that, 72.6% identified destruction of cash crops during timber exploitation as cause of conflicts between them and farmers. State Ministries of Forestry and Agriculture officials identified loss of forests (27% and 25.2%), tree species (25.5% and 24%) and lives (22.5% and 22%), as effects of conflicts in the FRs. Conflicts in the use of forest land ensued between farmers and timber contractors on one hand and farmers and forest custodians on the other. The existence of land hunger in the forest reserves host communities and unauthorized access to forest land encouraged activities engendering conflicts over the use of forest land.
Keywords: Land-use conflicts, Forest policy, Forest reserves, Land hunger
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