Forestry Resource Exploitation by Rural Household, Their Pathways out of Poverty and its Implications on the Environment. A Case Study of Toro LGA of Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

In order to survive and thrive in their pathways out of poverty, rural households may engage in a livelihood strategy such as daily dependent on forest products resources that could have an implication on the environment. This study focused on a case study of rural households’ daily dependent on forest products, their pathways out of poverty and its implication on the environment in the Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria using a total of 200 questionnaires distributed in four wards of the study area. Data obtained show that the most exploited tree was Parkia biglobosa (64%) and this was due to its abundance in the study are. The study revealed gross unsustainable use of forest and forest products due to poverty, unemployment (34%), illiteracy (76.5%), house hold size (3.5-61.5%), poor income and high demand for forest and forest products for sale to increase income and improve family standard of living. Poor management of this challenge would create problems for the future generations and the goal of environmental sustainability would be far from reality. Government should set up strong regulatory frame work for the use of the forest resources, while checking indiscriminate felling of trees.