Impact of Forest Ecosystem Services Degradation on Livelihood of Local Communities on the Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria

This study assessed the impact of forest ecosystem services degradation on the livelihoods of local communities on the Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria, using mixed geospatial and socio-economic approaches. Multi-temporal Landsat imagery (1987–2024) and household survey data (n = 384) were analyzed to quantify biomass, carbon stock changes, and livelihood vulnerability. Results revealed a 43.6 % decline in aboveground biomass and a 41.2 % reduction in carbon stock over the 37-year period. High-biomass and carbon-rich zones shrank drastically, confined mainly to protected areas such as the Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI–IPCC) indicated a mean score of 0.63, with exposure (0.75) and sensitivity (0.68) exceeding adaptive capacity (0.43). Regression results showed that forest dependency positively influenced vulnerability (β = 0.41, p < 0.01), while income diversification (β = –0.38, p < 0.05) and education (β = –0.29, p < 0.05) reduced it. Spatial analysis confirmed a strong correlation (r = 0.71, p < 0.01) between biomass loss and livelihood vulnerability. The findings highlight the urgent need for participatory forest restoration, improved governance, and livelihood diversification to enhance ecosystem resilience and human well-being on the Plateau.