CORRELATE OF FOREST VALUES AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HOUSEHOLDS AROUND OBA HILL FOREST RESERVE OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

In Nigeria, the forest environs are generally viewed as a core rural area of the country. Despite this assertion, many forest dwellers still regarded forests as the safety net for human survival. This study examined the correlation between forest values and quality of life among rural households around Oba Hill Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling method was employed to choose 108 study participants. Focus group discussions and an interview schedule were used to obtain data. It was discovered that the majority of participants (64.8%) were male, aged between 41-50 years (59.3%), married (65.7%), and (70.4%) participated in forest practices. The rate at which the respondents embraced forest value was high (71.3%) while the quality of life as regards to the environments was satisfactory. There was a strong connection between the educational qualifications of the respondents (ײ=8.334, p=< 0.005) and quality of life. Also, a positive correlation was observed between forest values and quality of life of the respondent in the reserve (r=0.667, p=.000).