Striking a Balance: Dilemma of Economic Survival and Sustainable Forest Exploitation in Cross River State

Abstract

The study was designed to examine the economic survival and sustainable forest exploitation in Cross River State. To achieve the purpose of the study, three research questions were posed and three null hypotheses formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Review of literature was carried out based on the sub-variables of the study. The study adopted the correlation research design. The population of the study was 17,588. The sample of this study was eight hundred and seventy-nine (879) respondents (5% of population) drawn from the 10 villages from the 6 selected local government areas in the study area (Cross River State). The instrument for data collection was a 25-item structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. The instrument was titled Economic Survival and Sustainable Forest Exploitation Questionnaire (ESSFEQ). Face and content validity of the instrument was done by three experts in tests and measurement. Cronbach alpha coefficient was used to test the reliability of the instrument. Data collected was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis. The findings of the study revealed that sustainable farming method through agroforestry is significantly related to sustainable forest exploitation in Cross River State, while organic farming and wood logging were not significantly related to sustainable forest exploitation in Cross River State. It is concluded that agroforestry method of farming should be encouraged. It was recommended that, farmers should be fully involved in agroforestry farming practice, which will go a long way in helping our forests to regenerate and the concept of organic farming should be encouraged as it has little or no negative impact on the environment and the government should inert and enforce legislation against illegal wood logging in the state.