Socioeconomic Determinants of Community Participation in Sustainable Forest Resource Management: Integrating Participatory Development and CBNRM Perspectives in Cross River State, Nigeria
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This study examined the influence of education level and economic dependence on forest resources on community participation in sustainable forest resource management (SFRM) in the Central Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. A correlational research design was adopted, and data were collected from 521 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression were employed for data analysis. The results revealed a significant effect of education level on participation, F (2, 518) = 103.12, p < .001. Post hoc analysis revealed that respondents with intermediate and higher education levels participated more than those with only basic education. No significant difference was observed between intermediate and higher education groups, indicating a threshold effect: participation increases once education rises above the basic level, but further increases in education beyond this point do not notably boost participation. This suggests a plateau, where passing a certain educational threshold is sufficient for maximal participation. Furthermore, a very strong positive relationship was found between economic dependence and participation (r = .995, p < .001). Economic dependence significantly predicted participation, explaining 99.0% of the variance (R² = .990). The findings are interpreted through the Health Belief Model (HBM), Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), and Participatory Development Theory, suggesting that participation is driven by the interaction of knowledge (education), livelihood incentives (dependence), and risk–benefit perceptions. However, the unusually high explanatory power indicates possible construct overlap or common method bias, warranting cautious interpretation. The study concludes that enhancing functional education and aligning livelihood incentives with conservation goals are critical for strengthening community participation in SFRM. It recommends targeted environmental education, strengthened tenure and benefit-sharing systems, and integrated livelihood strategies to promote sustainable forest governance.
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