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Community Participation in Biodiversity Conservation
and Management: Case Study of Osse River Park, Ondo
State, Nigeria
*Oladeji, S.O and Fatukasi D.T
Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management,
Federal University of Technology, Akure
*E-mail for correspondence: oladejisunny@yahoo.com
Abstract
Local community involvement and participation are
considered essential in achieving sustainable
management, protection and conservation of
biodiversity. The level of participation of host
communities of Osse River Park was assessed through
administration of four hundred structured
questionnaires to four out of the eight adjoining
communities to the park. Staffs of the two relevant
government agencies in Ondo State and Nigeria
Conservation Foundation (NCF) employees working
within the Park were also interviewed. The research
findings revealed that though the communities were
involved at the inception of the Park, however their
level of engagement is low (25%) in spite of the
government and NCF’s investing in environmental
education, community sensitization, park protection and
surveillance. According to 50-70% of the respondent,
government and NCF’s invested more in park protection
and surveillance. Only 30% and 10% of the respondents
identified provision of inputs and intensification of
conservation education as needing attention,
respectively. The research identified the need for
increased financing from the present 5-25% of the
government’s commitment in finance (and research)
and NCF’s input in fund raising. Such investment could
be reduced if the identified need for improved
stakeholders’ relations, engagement, intensive
conservation education and integration was met. The
research output will greatly help in the proper
integration of all the stakeholders in an effort to achieve
sustainable biodiversity conservation of Osse River Park.
It is recommended that NCF’s increased focus on
research in biodiversity and development of ecotourism
in the integration process.
Keywords: Stakeholders, biodiversity conservation, host
communities, Non-Governmental Organisation
Impacts of Pastoral Communities on Forest Diversities
in Mathews Range Forest Reserve, Kenya
Peter Fundi Njagi
Department of Ecology and Conservation, Institute of
Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya
Emails for correspondence: fundi@primateresearch.org;
fundinjagi2000@yahoo.com
Abstract
The pastoral community’s livelihood has over the years
depended on livestock keeping with major concerns
about the long term sustainability of communally grazed
rangelands. Prolonged droughts are forcing Samburu
pastoralists to search for pasture and water within their
only water catchment forests. To understand the impact
this response has on forest structure, we characterized
the habitat and determined the threats facing high
altitude forests of Mathews Range Forest Reserve.
Quantitative approach of vegetation sampling using
20m by 20m quadrats was used to characterize the
habitat in assessing the status and extent of
anthropogenic threats. The habitat was found to
comprise of 67 different tree species, 16 shrub species
and 28 species of herbs and grasses. High canopy trees
had the highest Shannon Weiner diversity index
(H=3.31) compared to shrub or middle storey layer
(H=1.70) and the herbaceous layer (H=2.82). Felling
trees for livestock forage accounted for 50.5% of the
observed habitat destruction with elephant destruction
contributing to 25.8%. Threats attributed to human use
of plant resources, honey harvesting and fire in the
habitat were minimal. In total, 32 tree species were
found to be affected by either anthropogenic or other
related causes. The study revealed that pastoralists’
traditional cultural practices which promoted
conservation are being overshadowed by the need to
cater for community’s livelihood at the face of changing
climate. Conservation policies geared towards
conservation and management of pastoral landscapes
should therefore be developed and enforced.
Keywords: Livelihood, climate change, habitat, Threats,
Mathews Rage Forest Reserve