Although urbanization may be increasing globally, over 75.0% of Nigerian
populations are still living in rural areas. Extensive rainfed farming used to sustain
this population is limited by loss of forest biodiversity, climate change and exposure of
fragile soil. This study reports the socio-economic background of Edo State forests
environments dwellers in relation to their land use activities with a view to positively
harnessing the synergy of the two variables for improving human livelihood and by
extension sustainable forest management. Stratified random sampling technique was
used to select 296 rural dwellers in settlements within and around three forest
reserves: Ehor, Okomu, and Sakpoba. Information obtained was subjected to
descriptive and chi-square test statistics at p = 0.05. Results revealed that the most
popular land use activity within the forest reserves is farming (94.9%). A majority of
the respondents practice mixed cropping with multiple choices of major crops through
the taungya5 system. Socio economic status of rural dwellers affect their awareness of
forest reserves, consent to use of forest reserves, willingness to plant trees on farm
land and exploitation of forest resources. While participatory management of the
reserves is expected to impact the economy of the study area, awareness of and
exploitation of forest reserves as well as willingness to plant trees will on the whole
influence the participation of rural dwellers in the management of the reserves.