The study assessed the extent of utilization of green economy initiatives among rural households surrounding the Onigambari Forest Reserve in Oyo State, Nigeria. Multi stage procedure was used to select 70 respondents in the study area. The research examined respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, identified the green initiatives adopted, and determined the factors influencing their extent of utilization. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select seventy respondents across five forest-adjacent villages, and data were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were employed for analysis. Findings showed that 57.1% of respondents were male and 55.7% were within 41–50 years, while 48.6% attained secondary education and 45.7% engaged in farming. All respondents avoided agrochemicals, 98.6% recycled non-degradable waste, and 95.7% practiced organic farming, while only 14.3% used renewable energy. The regression analysis indicated that the explanatory variables jointly explained 62.2% of the variation in the extent of utilization (Adjusted R2 = 0.622; F = 24.72, p < 0.01). Education (β = 0.312, p < 0.01), occupation (β = 0.452, p < 0.01), age (β = 0.041, p < 0.05), and access to renewable energy (β = 0.328, p < 0.05) significantly influenced utilization, while sex and marital status were not significant. The study concluded that respondents demonstrated strong awareness and active participation in sustainable environmental practices, largely shaped by education, occupation, and access to renewable technology.