MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF FOREST  RESOURCES IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Miriam Akpono Egere; Benedict Inah Ogar

Authors

Egere Miriam Akpono Department of Education Geography and Sustainable Development Studies, Faculty of Arts & Social Science Education, College of Education, University of Calabar, Calabar Author
Ogar Benedict Inah Department of Environmental Resource Management, Faculty of Environmental Science University of Calabar, Calabar Author

Keywords:

Forest management strategies, forest protection, afforestation/reafforestation, sustainability, forest resources

Abstract

This study examines the management strategies of forest resources in Cross River State, Nigeria. Two research hypotheses guided the study, and a correlational research design was adopted. The study population comprised 312,149 household heads in the southern senatorial district of Cross River State. The study sample comprised 1,230 individuals from four Local Government Areas, obtained through a multi-stage sampling procedure. The instrument constructed by the researchers, ‘Forest Management Strategies and Sustainability of Forest Resources Questionnaire (FMSSFRQ)' was used for data collection. Experts from the Measurement and Evaluation Unit of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Calabar validated the instrument. To assess the reliability of the instruments, the Cronbach's alpha method was used. The coefficient estimates obtained from the results ranged from .78 to .90. Simple Linear Regression was used for data analysis. The results of the analysis reveal that the forest protection strategy and the Afforestation/Reafforestation strategy significantly contribute to the sustainability of forest resources in Cross River State. The study concluded that forest management strategies significantly contribute to the sustainability of forest resources in the study area. It was recommended, among others, that the Government of Cross River State establish as many protected areas as possible across all forest communities to reduce forest exploitation and enhance the sustainability of forest resources in the communities.

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