ASSESSMENT OF ROLES OF TREES TO RURAL LIVELIHOOD IN BUNZA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KEBBI STATE

Abstract

The importance of tree to people and the environment was the aim of this paper. The Research was carried out at Bakura Local Area of Kebbi State. Questionnaire was used to get feedback from the farmers. The results that show the socio-economic status reveal that most of the dwellers in the local government use trees for shelter, food, medicinal, fodder, and fuel wood. Majority of the respondents (57.1%) in the area reported that they were married, (24.3%) were single, divorce (16.8%) while widows have (1.5%). This indicated that majority of the respondents have family responsibilities to cater for which affecttheir farming activities. Majority of students were male and only few were female, adults dominate the study area. On the education level, it was reported that primary education recorded (30%) of the respondents in the study followed by tertiary education (27.1%), secondary education had (11.5%) while quranic education had (15.9%). It is recommended that farmers should practice agro-forestry services, because of its dual benefits that people got from it and it also leads to successful recycling of nutrients and soil protection as well as improving their livelihood and agricultural production. Government should provide alternative source of living in the area so as to reduce the pressure on forest trees.