ABSTRACT

The study was conducted in the three agro-ccological swamp forest namely mangrove (brackish waler), fresh water and the lowland rain forest zones in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study investigated the status of some Non Timber Forest Products in the state to ascertain their ecological and socio-economic values in the land use of natural forest, tallow lands and agricultural lands. A randomized complete block (RCB) design was used with three replications per ecological zone to study the ecology and socioeconomics of NTFPs. Well structured (pre-tested) questionnaires were administered to less than 38 households per randomly selected Local Government Area. The questionnaires involved data on income generation, use and availability of NTFPs, influence of N I IPs on socio-economic well being and views on policy issues bordering on conservation and development of NTFPs. Inventories of NTFPs on natural forest, fallow lands and agricultural lands were done along transects and quadrands measuring 25m x 25m marked out at random. % frequency, relative abundance and similarity index of the NTFPs were computed. Students’ t-test was used to test the significant difference in abundance of NTFPs across the three agro-ccological zones in the rainy and dry seasons. Descriptive statistics showing frequency, means, simple percentages and index analysis was used in analyzing the data. The study shows that the percentage of frequency of occurrence was 80% for some species while their relative abundance was low. In the rainy season and within the natural forest the similarity index (%) for mangrove and fresh water swamp forest was 60.0%, mangrove and rainforest was 82.4% and rain forest and fresh water forest gave 40%. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that at P < 0.05 during the dry season there was significant difference in NTFPs abundance across the three agro-ecological zones. In terms of usage, NTFPs utilized as food were Hensia Crinata (73%), Lansienthera africanum (89.9%) and Cmctnm africanum (73%), Dacryodes eduhs (73%) and Raphia hookeri (64.9%) were used as gums and adhesives. Raphia hookeri (51.8%) and cocos nucifera (69.2%) were highly used as fibre. Cola acuminata (69.5%), Dennettia tripetala (69.5%), (iareinia cola (68.4%) and Afromomum medegueta (63 3%) were most used as stimulants N fFPs which were used as beverages and drinks were Idaeisguineensis (75.3%), ( ocos nuafera (75%) and Raphia hookeri (67%). Species like Cinchona cahsaya (51%), Ocimum grattissimum (58.4%), Zingiber officinale (52%), Stachytarpheta augustifoha (57.1%) met the medicinal needs ofthe populace. An assessment ofthe influence of NTFPs on the socio-economic well being of the respondents shows that 43.8% had a high dependence on NTFPs for their socio-economic well being. The result also shows the need for the development of fast growing NTFPs and their integration into Agr-forestry systems. Conservation of NTFPs is therefore being advocated.