Inventory and Status of Non-Timber Forest Products Used by Women Farmers in Enugu State

Non-timber forest products constitute a critical but frequently underestimated component of rural livelihood strategies, particularly for women in forest-adjacent farming communities across southeastern Nigeria. This study inventories the non-timber forest product species used by women farmers in three forest edge communities in Enugu State, quantifies collection frequency and income contribution, and assesses the sustainability of current extraction levels. Participatory rural appraisal methods including seasonal calendars, wealth ranking, and resource mapping were used alongside structured interviews with 165 women respondents. Field botanical surveys documented species availability within community forest plots. A total of 68 non-timber forest product species were identified, spanning food items, medicines, dyes, weaving materials, and condiments. Irvingia gabonensis, Beilschmiedia mannii, and Pentaclethra macrophylla were ranked highest by economic value. Non-timber forest product income contributed an average of 31% of annual household income for the sampled women. Extraction was concentrated in the post-harvest season, reducing competition with crop labour. Stock assessments of key species indicated declining availability near settlements, suggesting unsustainable extraction intensity for high-demand species. The study recommends semi-domestication trials for priority species on communal land, combined with women-led monitoring committees to enforce voluntary collection quotas. Keywords: non-timber forest products, women, livelihood, Enugu State, sustainable extraction