Economic Benefits of Onigambari Forest Reserves on the Host Communities

Abstract

A multistage sampling was adopted in which purposive sampling was used to identify communities where government and non-governmental organization have their presence and the benefits they attract to these communities. Further, a stratified random sampling was used to administer 25 questionnaires in chosen four communities in each of the two axes of the forest reserve making a total of 8 communities and a grand total of 200 questionnaires. The benefits derived from the forest reserve are many, which include land for farming within the open spaces of the forest, logging, fuel wood extraction, medicinal herbs and shrub extractions, hunting and bush meat sales. It was recommended that young people should take advantage of the enormous opportunities around this forest reserve to get for themselves gainful business and employment opportunities. Government should also provide infrastructural facilities and amenities to the rural communities to make living there convenience for the people.