BENEFITS AND VALUES OF AFAKA FOREST RESERVE (AFR) TO LIVELIHOODS OF AFAKA COMMUNITY IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Afaka Forest Reserve (AFR) of Kaduna State is an afforestation project initiated to boost livelihood of local communities in terms of economic value and environmental protection. After three decades of existence, the study deem it fit to assess the value of this reserve to its host community. This research aimed at examining socio-economic values of AFR to Afaka community. Structured questionnaire survey was used to get information on various economic benefits such as timber, bush meat, fuelwood, environmental and medicinal values, among others. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to assess proportional relationship among benefits and values. Analyzed data identified some benefits and opportunities such as 6% food products, 10% medicinal materials, 23% timber, and 22% fuelwood as deposits that were irrationally harvested by the community. An indication that AFR is a platform for small scale food vendors and forest-based enterprises. Further study unwrapped the contribution of AFR to research and development (8%) as well as ecosystem maintenance (6%). Drawn significant socio-economic and ecological benefits were: acceleration of food production, micro-climate regulation, soil stability and revenue in-flow. This study brings out correlated association between benefits and valued income. And also identified some unique problems in the reserve with some far-reaching recommendations on how to get the best socio economic and environmental values from the Afaka Forest Reserve for sustainable service opportunities in the area of developmental goals.