Assessment of Public-Private Participation in Sustainable Management of Urban Forest Ecosystem Services in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to empirically assess the prospect of public-private participation in sustainable management of urban forest ecosystem services in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of one hundred and twenty respondents for interview. Information was collected on socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, willingness to pay for ecosystem services, willingness to contribute towards establishment of urban parks, and ecosystem services usage pattern. Descriptive Statistics was used to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. Probit regression model was used to analyze the relationship between respondents’ socio-economic characteristics and their willingness to pay for ecosystem services (urban forest creation). The contingent valuation method was used to determine the level of monetary participation of the respondents. Result of data analysis shows that 87 respondents representing 72.5% are willing to pay for ecosystem services. Also 71 respondents representing 59.17% are willing to contribute towards the maintenance of urban forest ecosystem services. The minimum amount respondents are willing to contribute is N100 while the maximum amount is N2000. Educational qualification, household size and marital status were important variables that influenced the willingness to pay for ecosystem services.

Keywords: Public-private participation, Sustainable management, Urban forest Ecosystem, Contingent  valuation method (CVM).