An Appraisal of the Contribution of the National Park to the Development of Rural Communities in Oban Division of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Forest encroachment has been noted as a major hindrance to forest conservation in Nigeria. This study, therefore, sought to appraise the level of success attained by the Cross River National Park (CRNP) in its support zone development programme in Oban Division of the CRNP and its inputs on the benefitting peripheral communities.
Structured questionnaires were administered with the assistance of local enumerators in the selected communities of Obung, Ifumkpa, Aking and Orem of the support zone. Result from the study shows that the highest percentage of the respondents (38.46%) had only primary school education, while 30.00% had no education, thereby having
negative effect on the conservation programmes in these communities. There is low participation of the communities in the park project, with attendant effect felt in some areas, especially in Orem. Generally the chi square analysis shows that the annual income obtained by the villagers after the establishment of the park continues to increase. However, the support zone development programme of the park has no
effect on the level of employment in the communities. There is the need for the CRNP to attach more importance to its support development programme, as this is the only way the objective of establishing the park will be realized while ensuring more enduring partnership between the Park and the local communities.