EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF RURAL FARMERS IN MASHEGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The research was aimed at examining the effects of deforestation on livelihood of rural farm households in Mashegu Local Government area of Niger State, Nigeria. Multistage random was used to choose 190 respondents complimented with interview schedule using structured questionnaires. This study was carried out in four communities of Mashegu LGA of Niger State, Nigeria which were; Ibbi, Sabonpegi, Sahorami and Kulho, as participation communities in deforestation activities.The results showed that most of the respondents were active with mean age of approximately 17 years while the average family size was 9 person and 93% were married without formal education almost 76% with non-formal education, the research also shows that the major effect of deforestation on livelihood of rural farming households were: decrease in income, increase in poverty, and increase in vulnerability to climate change and also decrease in agricultural activities. Also reveals that majority of the respondents in the study area lacks knowledge on sustainability of forest resources strategies and practices.The major constraints faced by the respondents were: communal clash, Rapid disappearance of forest resources. It was recommended that outreach of sustainable forest strategies and practice should be advocated and prioritized in the study to avoid further deforestation activities.