ATTITUDES OF HOST COMMUNITIES TOWARD CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES IN CROSS RIVER NATIONAL PARK

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