PERCEPTION OF HOST COMMUNITIES TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION OF PARK LAWS IN KAINJI LAKE NATIONAL PARK, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study examined the perception of the host communities toward implementation of park laws relating to wildlife conservation, the laws being implemented and examined the reactions of the host communities toward the implementation of the laws in Kainji Lake National Park.  Two structured questionnaire were administered to 290 respondents which comprised of host communities (250) and uniform law enforcement agents (40). Respondents were selected from the two sectors i.e Borgu and Zugurma using stratified sampling. Eight (8) communities were selected randomly using 10% of 75 villages in Borgu sector and six (6) communities were selected using 10% of 56 villages in Zugurma sector. The selected communities are ; Wawa (21), Luma (13), Malale (10), Kuble (05), Kemenji (14), Wurumakoto (21), Karina (06), Tunga maje (20), Ibbi (25), Shafini (22), Mulea(26), Felegi (23), Gwaji (20) and Zugurma (24), and 1% sampling intensity was used to get the sampled population. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages summarized in tables, and Chi-square.  The host communities had knowledge of the laws of Kainji Lake National Park (94.8%). They had awareness that there is Park law (89.3%). They also had awareness that farming (92.2%), hunting (94.0%) and grazing (86.6%) were offences in the park. Illegal entry was the most frequent offence (32.0%). Farming was the major occupation of the host communities (39.0%). The villagers experienced restriction in their farming/hunting activities (39.5%), and lack of benefits from the park (22.7%). Social problems were (10.0%), host communities suggest way to protect wildlife using monitoring with modern tools introduction of GIS having greater frequency (23.6%). Host communities encourage park to continue to operate (95.4%). Perception of the host communities toward the implementation of park laws in Kainji Lake National Park was not based on the performance of rangers implementing the law but restriction of the host communities’ access to the forest resources, lack of perceived benefits from the Park. Participation of host communities in the management of the Park, increase in the strength of wildlife law enforcement via provision of the required equipments, access to benefits from tourism to the people would increase a better relationship between the host communities and the Kainji Lake National Park and in the long run better the environment for wildlife conservation in Kainji Lake National Park

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Biodiversity is the variety of living things in an environment, it is crucial and of great importance to the environment. It therefore means that conservation and preservation of these varieties of living things should be of great concern to the Local, National and International Level. Failure to achieve this objective will lead to the imbalance of the ecosystem. When this occurs, the world will be greatly affected and the perpetual utilization of these natural resources would have been lost. At present, protected areas have turned to be the most reliable area to secure some specific gene pool and also a place where the undomesticated plants and animals resides which is devoid of human exploration for example, National Park, Game Reserves, Forest Reserves etc.  Conservation of these areas is vital for Scientific Research, Education, Protection of Ecosystem and Ecotourism. The park management is devoid of human exploitation of forest resources, wildlife and limited expansion of access road or tarred road. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) defines a National Park as relatively large area of land or sea where;

• one or several ecosystem are not materially altered by human exploitation and occupation where plant and animal species, geomorphologic sites and habits are of special scientific, educational and recreational interest which contains a natural landscape of great beauty.
• The highest competent legal authority of the country (National or Federal Governments) has taken steps to eliminate, as soon as possible, exploitation or occupation in the whole area to enforce effectively the respect of ecological, geomorphologic, or scientific features which have led to its establishment.
• Visitors are allowed to enter, under specific conditions, for inspirational, educational, cultural and recreational purposes, (IUCN, 1990)

Nigeria occupies the largest land area in the western part of Africa and sub-saharan Africa of 923, 168km² with a population of 140, 431,790 in 2006 (NPC 2009). It is located on latitudes 4^o16⁰ N and 13⁰ 52⁰N and between 2⁰49⁰E. Nigerian is bestowed with diverse kind of plants and animals species found in the Rainforest and Savannah region of the Country. It has been estimated by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FMOE, 2001) that Nigeria has about 7,895 recorded species of plants, 20,000 species of insects, 1,000 species of birds, 1,489 species of micro organisms, 123 species of reptiles, about 1,000 species of fish, 247 species of mammals. Nigerian is a Country with Biodiversity and diverse natural landscapes (FMOE, 2001; USAID 2008) and diverse in flora and fauna. This ranks Nigeria as one of the richest Countries in Africa in terms of Biodiversity (FMOE, 2001). Problems faced by National Parks in Nigeria include Agricultural Practices in the National Park (Asibey and Chidi, 1990), Wildlife Poaching, Bush burning, Grazing, Logging activities (Agbelusi, 1994), Terrain, Soil types and Vegetation.

1.1       History of Nigerian National Parks

Conservation of wildlife resources started formally in 1916 at the eastern part of Nigeria. In 1928 and 1963, the West and Northern Nigeria soon joined. Today there is about 1,000 Forest Reserves which exist on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) world data base on protected areas, 11 Strict Natural Reserves, 1 Biosphere Reserve, 32 Game Reserves, 4 Game Sanctuaries and 7 National Parks. The National Parks are Kainji Lake National Park in Niger and Kwara States, Cross River National Park in Cross River State, Chad Basin National Park in Borno and Yobe States, Kamuku National Park in Kaduna State, Okomu National Park in Edo State, Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State, Gashaka Gumti National Park in Adamawa and Taraba States. Cross River National Park and Okomu National Park located within the Rain Forest Zone, Kainji Lake, Old Oyo, Gashaka Gumti and Kamuku National Parks are located within the Northern Guinea Savanna and Chad Basin National Park is located in both Sudan and in Sahel Savanna Zones.

The first National Park in the world is the Yellow Stone in the United States of America (USA) which was established in 1872. The Kruger and Hlubluwe-imfolozi National Parks in South Africa was established over 100 years ago. Serengeti National Park in Tanzania was created 60 years ago. International and Local Agencies involved in conservation are; United Nations (UN), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), Overseas Development Organization (ODA), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), International Biological Program (IBP)

In Nigeria, Farming is an important income earning opportunity in the rural communities. There is increasing encroachment into the protected areas not because the boundaries are not known but because there are no roads through which they can be monitored (KLNP Management Plan, 2011). Farmers extend into the National Park in the Kainji Lake National Park. Fulani cattle rearers graze their animals on the heart of the Park in the National Parks and Game Reserves. Poachers still hunt for bush meat except for some animals that are untouched (Warthog and Baboons untouched by the Muslims). It is now clear that hunting has already decimated game animals in the National Parks. Okomu National Park now has 197km²  in land mass which was formerly a large land area has been reduced to its present size by the invasion of some Oil palm industries. The Forest Reserves has been reduced to its minimum with the illegal felling activities of some endemic tree spp. With the increase in the human population, stress and pressure has been placed on protected areas by the increasing demand for plant and animal products leading to the reduction of the fauna and flora (USAID, 2008).

The logger heads between the Host communities and the Kainji Lake National Park continues to be an obstruction to successful and effective conservation of the Kainji Lake National Park. The bone of contention is the perception of Host communities in the implementation of park laws in the Kainji Lake National Park. Evaluation of the Cost and Gain of the Host communities will be discussed. The identification of laws being implemented in the Kainji Lake National Park will be discussed and developmental projects will also be discussed.

TABLE 1.1:   LOCATION, LAND AREA AND THE ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF NIGERIA NATIONAL PARKS

Source:www.wikipedia.com

Figure 1: Map of Nigeria showing National Park

PERCEPTION: Perception could be defined in the following ways;

1. The act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cogntion; understanding.
2. Immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities; insight; intuition; discernment: an artist of rare perception.
3. Psychology: A single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present
4. Law: The taking into possession of rents, crops, profits, etc

Perception is seen by different persons in different perspectives, giving different meanings or views about the same situation.

HOST COMMUNITIES: This is concept that encompasses all the people that inhabits a defined geographical entity, ranging from a continent, a region, a town, village or historic site. Members of the host communities have responsibilities that include governing the place and they can be regarded as those who have or continue to define its particular cultural identity, life style and diversity. They contribute to the conversation or its possessive heritage and interact with visitors.

IMPLEMENTATION: This is the carrying out, execution or practice of a plan, a method, or any design for something. As such, implementation is the action that must follow any preliminary thinking in order for something to actually happen. Wildlife law implementation is the basic tool for wildlife management especially under the in-situ conservation concept.

LAW: A law is a regularly enacted in accordance with the custom of the land and which contravention is punishable by fine, imprisonment or both depending on the gravity of the offence

1.1.1    National Park Service Act

An act to establish the National Park Service to be responsible for the preservation, enhancement and protection of wild animals and plants and other vegetation in National Parks; and for matters connected therewith. [1999 No. 46, National Park Service (Amendment) Act, 2006].

There is hereby established a body to be known as the National Park Service (in this act referred to as “the service”)

The service;

(a) shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal; and

(b) may sue and be sued in its corporate name

1.2       Mission of National Parks

The Mission of the Park Service is to manage and regulate the use of these unique ecosystems designated as National Parks by such means and measures to preserve and conserve Nigeria’s heritage, natural and cultural, tangible and intangible, particularly the fauna and flora habitats they live in, and the unique scenery they afford. Its Mission is to also provide human benefits and enjoyment in such manner and by such means so that these are left unspoiled for generations yet unborn.

1.3       Vision of National Parks

The vision of the Park Service is to develop a set of National Parks that can compete favorably with other National Parks in the world. To achieve this, the Service is making efforts to put in place operational Management Plans for each Park and a System Plan for the country.

A National Park System that meets the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians and indeed the whole world in conserving, preserving and protecting our natural heritage and the cultural edifices that enliven them for generations to come. To attain these goals therefore, the service would require adequately trained and equipped personnel. The ultimate goal is to become financially self- sufficient and support Nigeria’s economy through ecotourism for national unity and sustainable development.

1.4       Powers of National Parks

The service shall have power to:

• acquire or dispose of any property, movable or immovable;
• pay remuneration (inducting pensions), allowances, expenses and any other benefit to member of the Board and employees of the Service or any other persons, in accordance with such scales as may be determined by the Service with the approval of the Minister;
• do anything which in its opinion is calculated to facilitate performance of its functions under this Act.

1.5       Objectives of National Parks

The objectives of the service shall be:

• the conservation of selected and representative examples of wildlife communities in Nigeria;
• we establishment of an ecologically and geographically balanced network of protected areas under the jurisdiction and control of the Federal Government;
• the protection of endangered species of wild plants and animals and their habitats;
• the conservation of wildlife throughout Nigeria so that the abundance and diversity of their species are maintained at the optimum levels commensurate with other forms of land use, in order to ensure the continued existence of wildlife for the purpose of their sustainable utilization for the benefit of the people of Nigeria;
• the preservation of outstanding scenic, natural, scientific, recreational and other values in the National Parks;
• the protection and maintenance of crucial wetlands and water catchment areas;
• the control of dangerous vertebrate species;
• the implementation of relevant International treaties, agreements or other arrangements regarding, relating to or connected with protected areas and wild-life management to which Nigeria is a party, in so far as the power to implement those international treaties, agreements or arrangements is conferred on the service by the Federal Government;
• the promotion and provision of education about wildlife and nature conservation; and
• the conservation of biological diversity in Nigeria.

1.6       Functions of National Parks

The functions of the Service shall be to:

• preserve, enhance, protect and manage vegetation and wild animals in the National Parks;
• advise the Federal Government on the development and preservation policy of the National Parks, including the financial requirements for the implementation of such policy;
• advise the Federal Government on the declaration of areas which, for the purpose of protecting wildlife species, biotic communities sites of special interest or of aesthetic value, the Service considers may be declared as National Parks under this Act;
• keep under review all activities relating to the National Parks
• ensure the implementation of the National Parks Policy of the Federal Government;
• prepare surveys and maintain up-to-date records of all the existing facilities for the growth and protection of the fauna and flora in the National Parks, for zoological or botanical species, and for wild or domesticated animals and ad- vise the Federal Government and State Governments on their adequacy and efficient utilization in the interest of the national economy;
• promote, develop and carry out research on the wildlife resources of Nigeria, with a view to promoting optimum utilization and management of the wildlife;
• encourage general education in the knowledge of wild and domestic animals, fauna and flora and vegetation by publishing or sponsoring the publication of the results of research, particularly in relation to problems affecting Nigeria;
• encourage the general public to visit the National Parks and the study of nature afforded in the National Parks, thereby popularizing them as tourist attractions;
• co-operate with other agencies to promote and develop alternatives to wildlife as a source of protein and income for the rural population;
• implement relevant international conventions and obligations;
• co-ordinate the activities of the various National Parks Management commit-tees;
• administer and enforce this Act to attain its purpose; and
• Carry out such other activities which, in the opinion of the Service, will facilitate the performance of its functions under this Act.

1.7       Statement of Problem

The Host communities around the Kainji Lake National Park are aware of the law but feel that the National Park is their heritage and a means for their survival. This entails the Government and the host communities working hand in hand to put a lasting solution to the defaulting of the law, hence, the perception of the host communities has to be examined toward the enforcement of laws.

1.8       Scope of the Study

This study is designed to cover Kainji Lake National Park (within 5 metres radius). Fourteen (14) communities were selected in the buffer zone of the park, eight (8) and six (6) communities from Borgu and Zugurma sector respectively. The communities are: Wawa Luma, Malale, Kuble, Kemenji, Wurumakoto, Karina, Tunga maje for Borgu sector and Ibbi, Shafini, Mulea, Felegi, Gwaji, Zugurma for Zugurma sector

1.9       Limitation of the Study

In the course of this research work, some of the problems encountered that posed serious constraints to the execution of this work were: inaccessible road network leading to the selected villages, unwillingness of some villages to participate due to complain of lack of trust of strangers, communication barrier encountered in questioning the villagers and inadequate finance to facilitate extensive research.

1.10     Justification of the Study

A good understanding of the perception of the Host communities in the enforcement of Kainji Lake National Park laws is a pre-requisite for a peaceful cohabitation between the Host communities and the Kainji Lake National Park. It has shown that a community that is involved in the implementation of park laws is more supportive than community that has a negative attitude towards the implementation of Park laws.

1.11     Objectives of the Study

The objective for this study is to determine the perception of the Host communities towards the implementation of parks laws in Kainji Lake National Park. The specific objectives of this study are;

1. To identify the laws being implemented in Kanji Lake National Park
2. To examine the host communities reaction toward the implementation of the park laws

• To identify and assess the factors influencing the host communities’ perception towards the implementation of park law in Kainji Lake National Park.