Tropentag, September 11 - 13, 2024, Vienna "Explore opportunities... for managing natural resources and a better life for all"

How do alternative livelihood activities impact poverty reduction in forest-based households? Evidence from Omo Biosphere Reserve, Nigeria

Czech University of Life Sciences, Dept. of Economics and Development, Czech Republic

Abstract

In recent times, the effect of socio environmental threats on biodiversity has emerged as a central issue in ecological and environmental sciences. Efforts are being made by policymakers, donors, and experts to link sustainable development with biodiversity conservation through promoting alternative livelihood strategies. In 2014, UNESCO/ Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) funded the project “Green Economy in Biosphere Reserves (GEBR): A Means To Poverty Reduction, Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa” which was carried out in selected Biosphere Reserves in three African countries namely Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania with the aim of reducing poverty among youth and women, as well as conserving biodiversity through a well-developed and managed green businesses. It is therefore imperative to explore the effect of this intervention on the livelihood of the benefiting households. This study will empirically examine the effect of alternative livelihood income activities on the poverty status and welfare of rural communities in one of the selected biosphere reserve, i.e Omo Biosphere Reserve in Nigeria. Sustainable livelihood approach will be adopted for this study. Data will be collected through administration of well-structured questionnaires and focused group discussion from beneficiaries of the project. The target respondents are the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the GEBR project. A multistage sampling technique will be employed. The first stage will involve random selection of four beneficiary communities. In the second stage, the households will be stratified based on those who benefitted and those who did not. In total, 500 households will be sampled. GEBR beneficiaries will be oversampled in order to have the sufficient observations to make inferences. Data will be analysed using Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty model, Propensity Score Matching Model (PSM) and Endogenous Switching Regression Model (ESR). At the end of the study, the poverty status (severity and extent) as well as the impact of GEBR project on the livelihood of the benefiting household would have been established.

Keywords: Alternative livelihood activities, deforestation, green economy, omo biosphere reserve, rural livelihood

Contact Address: Kazeem Akanni Jimoh, Czech University of Life Sciences, Dept. of Economics and Development, Kamýcká 129, 165 00  Prague 6, Czech Republic, e-mail: jimohftz.czu.cz