Abstract

A multi-stage sampling technique with four stages was adopted for this study. Three Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from each of the agro-ecological zone in Benue State. Two wards from each LGAs and 30 respondents were selected to give a total of 540 respondents for this study. A total of 540 questionnaires were developed, validated and administered to the respondents in the study area with only 535 retrieved. Data generated was analyzed using simple percentages and Logistic regression analysis at α0.05. The result on sex indicated that, 430 (80.4%), males and 105 (19.6%), females. The result on age indicated that;5 (0.9%), 1-15years; 10(1.9%), 16-35 years; 15(2.8%), 36-45years; 135(25.2%), 46-60years while 370(69.2%) are above 61years. The result on educational status shows that, 405(75.7%), Adult education; 80 (15%), primary education; 35(6.5%), secondary education and 15(2.8%), tertiary education. The result on length of stay indicated that, 30(5.6%), 1-15years; 35(6.5%), 16-30years; 40(7.5%), 31-60years and 430(80.4%), 61years and above. The result on marital status showed that, 35(6.5%), singles while 500(93.5%) are married. The result on occupation shows that; 350(65.4%), farmers; 105(19.6%), Fishermen; 35(6.5%), Hunters; 15(2.8%), Artisans and 30(5.6%), Civil servants (Table 1.1). The result on indigenous knowledge indicated that; 200(37.4%), cultural taboos; 120(22.4%), restriction of harvest to specific days, weeks, months or seasons; 110(20.6%), adoption of shifting cultivation or bush fallows and 105(19.6%), adopts licensing regimes (Table 1.2). The result on repercussions for violating indigenous knowledge indicated that; 100(18.7%), madness; 78(14.6%), long delivery time for pregnant women; 65(12.1%), dumbness; 95(17.8%), barreness; 62(11.6%), diarrhea; 75(14%), continuous menstruation and 60(11.2%), snake bite (Table 1.3). The result of logistic regression analysis indicated that, instant consequences (ICC), involvement of witches and witchcraft (IWW) and the observation of taboos by everybody (TOE) had the highest odds-ratio of 975.74, 348.86 and 60.08 respectively while age (0.002), occupation (0.00), educational status (0.52), sex(0.01), household size (0.00), agro-ecological zone (0.00) and monthly income (0.00) had oddratio lower than two (2) respectively(Table 1.4). In conclusion, most of the respondents are males, married, elderly with low education and stayed in the study area over a long period of time and are mostly farmers. They use taboos to regulate the exploitation and conservation of forest resources. Those that violate these taboos have the followings to contend with; madness, long delivery time for pregnant women, dumbness, barrenness, diarrhea, continuous menstruation and snake bite respectively. Nevertheless, instant consequences, involvement of witches and witchcrafts and the observation of taboos by everybody were found to influence or promote the use of indigenous knowledge in the conservation of forest resources in the study area. Based on the major findings from the study, the followings are recommended; It has been observed that, the custodians of indigenous knowledge tend to hide this knowledge for fear of patronage and lost of respect and power, In order to create fears in the minds of their subjects, they mystify the taboos and the consequences are evoked spiritually, There is the need to respect, preserve, maintain and promote the use of indigenous knowledge used in the conservation of forest resources in the study area, However, for this to happen, there is the need to document the indigenous knowledge used in the conservation of forest resources in the study area. There is also the need to adopt these taboos that are friendly in our forest policy in the study area.