ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT OF FOREST COMMUNITIES IN REDD+ PROGRAMME IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Authors

  • ELIAS GYOBE NAPOLEON Geography Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
  • ADAMU TANKO OGAH NASRDA / Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
  • IDRIS NASIRU MEDUGU Institute for Built Environment, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
  • ABUGU NKECHINYERE ANTHONIA Institute for Built Environment, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

Abstract

Awareness and involvement of locals or project affected persons are paramount to the success of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) programme. The numerous prospects of REDD+ cannot be harnessed in Nasarawa state without adequate awareness and involvement of forest communities whose livelihoods depend on forest. Thus, assessment of awareness and involvement of forest communities in REDD + Programme in Nasarawa State, Nigeria currently lacking in literature was carried out. Two research hypotheses i. “There is no significant awareness of REDD+ Programme in forest communities in Nasarawa state’ ii. “There is no significant involvement of forest communities in REDD+ Programme in Nasarawa state” were tested at 95% confidence level. Two hundred (200) heads of households in forest communities were randomly selected for data collection using questionnaire and interview methods. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation and t test. Results show that the null hypotheses (HO) “there is no significant awareness of REDD+ Programme in forest communities in Nasarawa state was rejected while the HO “there is no significant involvement of forest communities in REDD+ Programme in Nasarawa state” was accepted at 95% confidence level. Thus, there is high level of awareness which is significant at 95% confidence level but insignificant involvement of the forest communities. Therefore, forest communities in Nasarawa state are aware of the REDD+ programme but not adequately involved. Thus, more inclusion of the forest communities to increase sense of belonging and improve positive impacts of the REDD+ programme was recommended.

Keywords:

Awareness, Involvement, Forest, Communities, REDD+

Published

2023-10-31

How to Cite

ELIAS GYOBE NAPOLEON, ADAMU TANKO OGAH, IDRIS NASIRU MEDUGU, & ABUGU NKECHINYERE ANTHONIA. (2023). ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT OF FOREST COMMUNITIES IN REDD+ PROGRAMME IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA. International Journal of Earth Design and Innovation Research, 2(1). Retrieved from https://mediterraneanpublications.com/mejedir/article/view/157