Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Wukari, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Authors’ Contact Detail: E-mail Address ✉: sszaku@yahoo.com

Accepted March 15, 2022

Women are involved in the harvesting, processing and marketing of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the enclaves of Gashaka-Gumti National Park (GGNP) Serti in Taraba State-Nigeria. However, the extent of their involvement is not known and documented in the study area. Therefore, assessment of women involvement in the harvesting and utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products in the enclaves of Gashaka-Gumti National Park was investigated. Data generated from the study was analyzed using simple percentages and frequency tables. The findings of the study indicated that, all the respondents are females, married with large household size, live inside the park and have very low educational background. A total of 84 NTFPs were harvested and utilized by women in the enclaves of Gashaka-Gumti National Park. Seven (7) harvesting methods were used by women to extract forest resources in Gashaka-Gumti National Park. Eight effects of the harvesting methods were identified. Based on the above, the followings are recommended; initiation of women community forest programs, use of alternative domestic energy source, improving Briquetting technologies of the local people and provision of improved cooking stoves, Incentives to motivate the locals, involved women in decision making, women should be taught sustainable NTFPs harvesting methods, women should be encouraged to plant NTFPs of their choice; this is because when women plant NTFPs of their choice on their farms or around their houses, the pressure on wild ones will be reduced.

Key words: Enclaves, Forest resources, Gashaka-Gumti, Utiization and Women.

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