*4.1.4 The perception of respondents to forest reserves*

This section epitomizes the perception of Gambari respondents to forest reserves. This is purposed to decipher the respondents' level of understanding, care as well as the determination of how significant they uphold conservation of FRs. From the foregoing, the results are pictorially presented as pie chart in **Figure 3** below.

At this juncture, it is expedient to state that the importance of a phenomenon is a function of the value placed on it. In laying credence to this assertion, **Figure 3** above diagrammatically illustrates the perception of respondents regarding their impression of forest reserves (FRs) in the study area. The result reveals that 156 (80.4%) respondents are of the opinion that FRs are not urban spaces for development. This group of respondents are those that place great value on FRs on account of its numerous ecological benefits to man, wildlife and the environment. On the contrary, 38 (19.6%) respondents are of the opinion that FRs are wastelands or virgin territories awaiting clearing/vegetation removal for other land uses such as infrastructural development, agriculture and other land uses. This situation is consistent with existing literature such as Akinluyi [19]; Raheem [20] and Adekola [21]. In addition, the respondents also responded to question 23 on whether it is necessary to protect vegetation resources, the results states that 225 (90.4%) responded in the affirmative, while 23 (9.2%) respondents stated otherwise. From the foregoing, it is expedient to orientate community dwellers, and more especially, decision makers on the need to consider the conservation of ecosystems as sacrosanct.
