ABSTRACT

The study was conducted in the three agro-ecological swamp foreSt namely mangrove (brackish water), fresh water and the lowland rain forest zones in Akwa lbom State, Nigeria. The study investigated the status of sonic Non Timber Forest Products in the state to ascertain their ecological and socio-cconomic values in the land usc of natural forest, fallow 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. Ihe cuestioiinaires involved data on income generation, usc and availability of' N'1'F'Ps, influence of NTFPs on socio-economic well being and views on policy issues bordering on conservation and development of NTFPs. Inventories of' NTFPs on natural forest, fdlow lands and agricultural lands were donC along transects and quacirands measuring 25m x 25m marked out at random. % frequency, relative abundance and similarity index of' the NTFPs were computed. Students' 1-test was used to test the significant diflereriec in abundance of NTFPs across the three agro-ecological zones in the lamy 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 rain forest was 82.4% and rain forest and flesh water forest gave 40%. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that at P 0,05 during the dry season there was significant dilThrcncc in NTFPs abundance across the three agro-ecological zones. In terms of usage, NTFPs utilized as fOod were Hciisia ( 'i/na/a (73%), Laiisicnthera a/rwuiiiini (89.9%) and (i/len,,,, africaiium (73%), /)acrrocles edu/ir (73%) and Rap/ila /ioekei'i (64.9%) were used as gu ins and ad hesives. /?apl:ia /ieokeii (51 .8%) and eec us nm.i/('ru (69.2%) WCR' ti gh I y used as fibre. ( '01(1 ac/i/ni/ia/a (69.5%), 1 )eniic'//i fr/pc/ala (60. 5° ), ( IUi( i/i/ ('01(1 (68.4%) and A/niioiiiiiiii ineilegucia (63.3%) were most used as stimulants. N'!'FPs which were used as 1)everages and clink s were //aeis gi/ineensis (75.3%), ( ()ces i,uc.'i/eii (75%) and Rap/i/a /,00keri (67%). Species like ( 'inc/lena cal/sara (SI %), (kiiniwi i al/is simian (58 4%) /i,iç'ib / of/ic iiiak (52%) Slac/fl'lai/)/;c 1(1 all/iS f//u/ui ( 57 0 met the medicinal needs oithe populace. An assessment of the influence of NTIPs on the soclo-economic well being of the respondents shows that 43.8% had a high dependence on Ni'FPs for their socio-economic well being. i'he result also shows the need for the development of fast growing NTFPs and their integration into Agr-f'oreslry systems. Conservation of NTFPs is therefore being advocated.