Socio Economic Assessment of Urban Forestry Respondents’ income in Okiti Pupa, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper investigates the socio economic assessment of urban forestry respondents’ income in Okitipupa, Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and these were administered to 200 urban forestry respondents. Data were collected on socioeconomic characteristics viz: age, gender, marital status, educational status, credit access and other household variables. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. Results revealed that the average age of the respondent was estimated to be 47 years. Majority of respondents (56.40%) falls within the ages of 31-40, while those whose ages were above 60years were 06.98%. Multiple Regression Model revealed that age, education, experience, gender and farm size have significant relationship (p<0.01) with income of respondents. Higher income would significantly lead to larger amount of donation for urban forestry programme. In order to encourage the respondents, the government should create enabling environment and publicized the importance of forest in urban settlement. Education should be made available to the urban dwellers at the grass root level. ©JASEM Keywords: Income, urban forest, education, age