WILDLIFE AND FORESTRY RELATED ACTIVITIES OF WOMEN IN NON-PROTECTED AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF OSUN STATE

Abstract

The study examined the involvement of women in wildlife and forestry related activities in a southwestern state of Nigeria. The data was collected over a period of 4 months. Interviewing procedures using structured and unstructured instruments were applied with the one hundred and fifteen women found in 3 local government areas (LGAs) of Osun State. The aim of the study was to examine wildlife-related activities that are on-going in these communities where there is no forestry or wildlife protected areas. The women were found to be severally involved in wildlife and forestry related activities such as the collection of firewood (85.6%) and leaves (83%), food crop production (76.5%), collection of condiments, fruits and seeds (33%), chewing sticks, ropes and sponges as well as livestock production (45%), fishing (23%) and killing of games (19%). The study revealed that the women in these areas embarked on these and related activities without considering the environmental degradation. These women are  poor and they depend on the income gotten from the sales of these non-timber forest products for their livelihood and sustenance. It was suggested that women should be engaged in other productive activities that will not adversely affect the biodiversity.