MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS OF PROTECTED AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF FOUR NATIONAL PARKS IN NIGERIA 1

• I. O. O. Osunsina

  Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta. Nigeria.

  Author

• A. A. Ogunjinmi

  Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

  Author

• M. A. Yisau

  Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta. Nigeria.

  Author

• E. I. Inah

  Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar P.M.B. 1115, Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria.

  Author

• J. Osunsina

  Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, P.M.B. 2273, Afaka, Kaduna. Kaduna State.

  Author

The management of protected areas was assessed in four national parks in Nigeria. This was done to identify the weaknesses, strength and threat to the four protected areas. Data were collected with well-structured questionnaires administered on ten (10) Managers of each of the selected protected areas. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mean and graphs. Prevalent Threat Index (PTI), Protection Area Susceptibility Index (PASI), the Mean Score of Threat Factor (MSTF) and the Relative Threat Factor Severity Index (RTFSI) were also calculated. The results found weaknesses in funding, staffing, research inventorying of biodiversity and threats and community relations. The numbers of staff found in the Parks were not adequate and as such the available staff cannot effectively cover the land area of the park for protection against illegal activities. The study concluded that the parks need to be properly funded by the Government.

1. I. O. O. Osunsina, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta. Nigeria.

   Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta. Nigeria.

2. A. A. Ogunjinmi, Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

   Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

3. M. A. Yisau, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta. Nigeria.

   Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta. Nigeria.

4. E. I. Inah, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar P.M.B. 1115, Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria.

   Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar P.M.B. 1115, Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria.

5. J. Osunsina, Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, P.M.B. 2273, Afaka, Kaduna. Kaduna State.

   Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, P.M.B. 2273, Afaka, Kaduna. Kaduna State.

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