Abstract

The study was carried out to examine the effects of crude oil exploration activities on the availability of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Ughelli North Local Government, Delta State, Nigeria. Ten (10) Communities were purposively selected; 5 crude oil producing Communities (Owevwe, Afiesere, Imodje, Agbarha-Otor and Eruemukowhoarie) and 5 non-crude oil producing Communities (Okpara, Oghara. Eboh-Orogun, Aragba-Orogun and Oteri. One hundred and forty-seven (147) copies of Type l questionnaire and one hundred and forty-six (146) copies of Type ll questionnaire making a total two hundred and ninety-three (293) questionnaires were recovered. Data collected from both Types l and ll questionnaire were summarized with the use of descriptive statistics. Separation of means was carried out with descriptive statistics and univariate analysis of variance. The hypothesis was tested using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of probability. The results showed that the non-crude oil producing communities had a relatively higher measure of availability of NTFPs. A t-test proved that crude oil exploration activities had a significant effect on the availability of NTFPs used as medicine (t-2.465, p<0.05); flavors and spices (t-2.955, p<0.05); craft and industrial materials (t-2.549, p<0.05); meat (t-2.954, p<0.05). However, crude oil exploration activities had no significant effect on availability of NTFPs used as food (t-1.868, p>0.05) and fuel wood (t-1.050, p>0.05). Based on the findings of this study, there is need for both the Government and oil companies to gear up to the challenges of monitoring, evaluating and managing the oil drilling and gas flaring sites for a sustainable environmental development.

Key Words: Crude Oil, Exploration, Influence, Non-Timber Forest Products and Ughelli