WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR SYSTEMATIC MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY FORESTS FOR CONSERVATION OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA’S RAINFOREST REGION Implications for poverty alleviation

Abstract. Despite the importance of non-timber forest products (NTFP) in sustaining livelihood and poverty smoothening in rural communities, they are highly depleted and poorly conserved. Besides, conservation initiatives in Nigeria to date are rarely participatory. Even community forests, the main source of NTFP, are poorly conserved. Therefore, to enhance participatory conservation initiatives, this study determines the willingness of households in forest communities in the rainforest region of Nigeria to pay for systematic management of community forests using the contingent-valuation method. A multistage random-sampling technique was used in selecting 180 respondent households used for the study. The value-elicitation format used was discrete choice with open-ended follow-up questions. A Tobit model with sample selection was used in estimating the bid function. The findings show that some variables such as wealth category, occupation, number of years of schooling and number of females in a household positively and significantly influence willingness to pay. Gender (male-headed households), start price of the valuation, number of males in a household and distance from home to forests negatively and significantly influence willingness to pay. Incorporating these findings in initiatives to organize the local community in systematic management of community forests for NTFP conservation will enhance participation and hence poverty alleviation