THE KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF THE EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN EKOSODIN COMMUNITY

This study was conducted to investigate the knowledge and perception of the effects of deforestation among rural dwellers in Ekosodin Community, Benin City, Edo State. The study sought to determine the level of knowledge of residents regarding deforestation, ascertain the perceived causes and consequences of deforestation, and investigate rural residents' perceptions of environmental degradation brought on by deforestation. Three research questions were developed to guide the investigation and relevant literatures related to deforestation were clearly discussed. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of 10,150 residents of Ekosodin Community. A sample size of 255 respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a self- structured questionnaire titled 'Questionnaire on the Knowledge and Perception of the Effects of Deforestation among Residents of Ekosodin Community'. The project supervisor and experts in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education validated the instrument. The Cronbach's Alpha reliability method was used to determine the instrument's reliability. Frequency counts and percentages were used to analyze the data, and chi-square statistics were employed to test the hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05. The findings revealed that the majority of rural dwellers in Ekosodin Community possessed high knowledge of deforestation and were aware of its causes and environmental consequences. The respondents identified agricultural activities, indiscriminate tree felling, urban expansion, construction activities, fuelwood harvesting, and industrial development as major causes of deforestation in the community. Based on the findings, the study concludes that even though rural residents of Ekosodin Community are well-informed about deforestation and its consequences, ongoing environmental awareness campaigns and community involvement in forest conservation initiatives are still necessary. The study recommends that government agencies, environmental organizations, and community leaders intensify public education campaigns about the risks of deforestation, enforce environmental protection laws, support sustainable land-use practices, encourage tree planting programmes, and promote alternative energy sources to ensure environmental sustainability and ecological balance in the community.