ABSTRACT

This work investigated the attitudes of host communities toward conservation programmes in Cross River National Park. The study identified the conservation programmes in Cross River National Park, determined the perception of host communities towards conservation programmes in Cross River National Park, identified the level of involvement of host communities in the management of conservation programmes in Cross River National Park, determined the level of acceptability of conservation programmes by the host communities of Cross River National Park, ascertained the level of benefits enjoyed by the host communities of the conservation programmes in Cross River National Park and determined ways of improving the conservation programmes in the study area for the sustainability of both the host communities and the National Park. The sample size of the study was 397 respondents and the study adopted both purposive random sampling and stratified sampling technique. A well-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the host communities of the study area. The data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages), mean and standard deviation and ANOVA was used to test the hypothesis. The findings of the study proved that there is significant difference between the respondents’ occupation and the conservation programmes in Cross River National Park (F cal 9.5 > F tab 2.24) at 5% significance level, there is relationship between respondents’ gender and their participation in the conservation programmes of Cross River National Park (F cal11.83 > F tab 2.24) and there is significant difference in the benefits enjoyed by the host communities of the National Park from the conservation programmes (F cal 15.389 > F tab 2.04) . The empirical survey revealed that the null hypothesis was not true. From this work, it was recommended that existing community institutions should be part of the planning, decision making, stakeholders and monitoring of conservation policy. Also, conservation awareness/educational programmes should be created and frequently conducted for residents/indigenes in order to increase participation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title ii

Approval iii

Certification iv

Dedication v

Acknowledgment vi

Abstract vii

Table of Contents viii

List of Tables xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Information 1

1.2 Statement of  The Problem 6

1.3 Objectives of the Study 8

1.4 Research Questions 8

1.5 Hypotheses 9

1.6 Significance of the Study 9

1.7 Scope of the Study 10

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Conceptual Framework 11

2.1.1 Attitude 11

2.1.2 Host Communities 11

2.1.2.1 Host Community Involvement and Participation 14

2.1.2.2 Community-Based Tourism 15

2.1.3 Conservation 17

2.2 Theoretical Framework 19

2.2.1 Doxey’s Irridex Model 19

2.2.2 Butler’s Tourism Destination Lifecycle 20

2.2.3 Butler’s Dynamic Matrix 21

2.2.4 The Social Exchange Theory 21

2.2.5 Stakeholder’s Theory 23

2.2.5.1 The Concept of the Stakeholder in a Tourist Company 23

2.2.6 Conservation Theory 25

2.2.6.1 Matrix 25

2.2.6.2 Conservation Management Models 26

2.3 Empirical Framework 28

2.4 Summary 34

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design 35

3.2 Area of Study 35

3.3 Population for the Study 36

3.4 Sample 36

3.5 Sampling Techniques 37

3.6 Instrument for Data Collection 37

3.7 Validation of the Instrument 38

3.8 Data Collection Techniques 38

3.9 Method of Data Analysis 38

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 

4.1 Data Analysis and Interpretation 40

4.2 Major Findings 48

4.2 Discussion of Findings 49

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary of Findings 53

5.2 Conclusion 54

5.3 Recommendation 55

REFERENCES 56

APPENDIXES