Sustainable Community Forest Management Techniques through Participatory Approaches in Southern Nigeria.

International Journal of Contemporary Issues. Vol. 6. 2014

Abstract

Human activities and nature conservation can hardly be divorced from their complex socio-cultural history. In the quest for a sustainable community forest management to improve livelihoods and protect nature, conflicts and crises of varying degrees have occurred among indigenous peoples in such areas or communities. Some argue that such restrictions reduce their capacity of production systems and abuse their fundamental rights. Various national governments have not been too sensitive in this area relating to abuse of rights. It should be noted however that there are extensive literatures on how community-based conservation are increasingly merging into that of rural sustainable livelihoods. This paper takes a cursory look into the concept and meaning of community management and sustainable development, conflicts of interest in indigenous knowledge systems and in agro-livelihoods, indigenous knowledge systems and agro forestry development, participatory approaches in community forest management, environmental and social impacts of community forest management with specific examples in Southern Nigeria etc. The implications of community-based conservation of forests and the implications on youths development in Nigeria were also discussed Suggestions and recommendations were also given in strengthening the model of community-based forest management to improve sustainable rural livelihoods without any infringement whatsoever on the peoples' rights particularly the youths on means to eke out a decent living.