Local participation in forest and biodiversity conservation in a Nigerian rain forest

Abstract

Environmental conservation strategies in most developing countries do not often consider local conditions. If local people's needs are incorporated in conservation efforts it would play an important role in sustainable management of protected areas. This paper reports a study of local people's preferences for biodiversity conservation management institutions that might motivate them to support conservation efforts in the Okwangwo Division of the Cross River National Park, Nigeria. The empirical data were generated from personal interviews and determinants of the respondents' preferences were analysed with a multinomial logit model. The results showed that most of the respondents preferred the institution that combines biodiversity conservation with development. Their preferences were influenced by income from farming activities, income from non-timber forest products and income from non-traditional employment. This study could contribute to knowledge of how to design biodiversity conservation strategies to increase support of more local people who reside in the vicinity of protected areas.

Keywords:

• environment
• livelihoods
• sustainability
• rain forest