Effectiveness of Community Forest Guards in Reducing Illegal Logging in Ondo State Forest Reserves

Illegal logging remains a persistent threat to the economic and ecological viability of government-managed forest reserves in southwestern Nigeria, undermining revenue generation and biodiversity conservation alike. This study evaluates the effectiveness of community forest guard programmes in reducing illegal logging activities in two forest reserves in Ondo State: Ago-Owu and Oluwa Forest Reserves. A quasi-experimental design compared logging incident frequency, timber volume illegally extracted, and vegetation recovery rates between reserves with active guard programmes and those without such arrangements over a three-year observation window. Data were collected through patrol log analysis, key informant interviews with forestry officials, and field verification of felling stumps using diameter at breast height measurements. Results show a statistically significant reduction in new illegal felling incidents in the guard-covered reserve, with a 46% decline compared to the control site. However, guard effectiveness varied with patrol frequency, community trust levels, and the availability of incentives. Corruption vulnerabilities and inadequate equipment were cited as structural constraints. Vegetation recovery monitoring revealed early-stage regeneration in previously logged patches within guarded sections. The study concludes that community forest guard programmes can be cost-effective deterrents when embedded in participatory governance frameworks with clear accountability mechanisms. Policy recommendations include formalised guard contracts, performance-linked incentives, and independent monitoring systems. Keywords: illegal logging, community forest guards, Ondo State, forest governance, patrol effectiveness