Resource development versus conservation conflict-forces in the Cross River National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

The development strive of support-zone communities is reflective of the level of effectiveness of sustainable conservation of natural resources in the Cross River National Park, Nigeria. To examine the nature and intensity of development and conservation conflict-forces within the Park, purposive sampling is used to examine eight delineated study communities and the National Park management to elicit facts on the factors that account for conflicts in the park. Findings show that development and conservation conflicts exist in the park owing to a number of factors which include park location and objection of the communities to the restrictions imposed on access to natural resources. These indices collectively manifest as threats to the communities and the park objectives. The factors accounting for this are identified to include lack of adequate employment of community members by Park management, lack of compensation by the park management to community, proximity of park boundary to communities and the restrictions of livelihood sources of the communities. The study advocates for community enlightenment, and the adoption of participatory approaches in managing the National Park.