Human Settlement Encroachment in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

Land encroachment is severely degrading and destroying many of Nigerian protected area as a result of high population pressure caused by high population growth and immigrations trends. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing human settlement encroachment in Kainji Lake National Park in order to established the extent to which this threat have been upheld and therefore call for park management to seek for proper approaches to deal with it. Data for this study were collected through the administration of questionnaire to the villages adjacent to Borgu sector of Kainji Lake National Park. Seven (7) randomly selected villages, namely Luma, Kuble, Audu Fari, Kali, Malale, Leshegbe and Gada Oli were surveyed. The result indicates gender of respondents where 65.09% of the responses were received from males while 34.91% from females suggesting that responses are the views from both gender parties who are mostly (33.96%) within the age range of 31–40 years and are predominantly farmer (43.42%). 88% of the respondents’ indicated that increased need of land for developments are the major causes of encroachment around the park while other human activities such as farming, deforestation and grazing of domesticated animals, by encroaching to protected areas have led into competition over natural resources. It is also established by 92% of the respondents agree that migration of people for livelihood support has led to increased competition between people and wildlife hence, this increase in population has consequently led to encroachment into the park as attested by a whopping 100% of the respondents. Kainji Lake National Park management need to do more in sensitizing the local communities on importance of wildlife conservation as most (54%) locals disagreed to awareness of conservation education and engages in intense vigilance against encroachment into the park land

Youths’ Participation in Livestock Agribusiness Entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the livestock business operations and livestock entrepreneurship interest of youths, their perception of livestock agribusiness entrepreneurship as a source of income and livelihood, the influence on their choice of livestock agribusiness entrepreneurship as a livelihood and the constraints to their livestock agribusiness entrepreneurship livelihood decision making. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional data were obtained from 779 youth livestock agribusiness entrepreneurs who were selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Findings: Youths positively perceived livestock entrepreneurship as a source of income and livelihood. To a great extent, their personal interest and passion was a major factor that influenced their choice of livestock agribusiness as career. The most serious constraints to livestock agribusiness career decision making among the youths was the inadequate finance and inaccessibility to fund. Research limitations/implications: The challenge of having limited access to data, time constraints and conflicts arising from some youth participants’ personal issues. Practical implications: This study will provide information to enable policy makers come up with policies that will address the food security needs of the country’s population. Originality/value: The information is required to close the gap in the literature and contributes to the body of understanding on youths’ agribusiness entrepreneurship activities. Paper type: Research pape

Early Growth Assessment of Triplochiton Scleroxylon Progeny Development From Conserved Forests in Nigeria

This study examined the intraspecific differences at the early growth of Triplochiton scleroxylon of mixed progeny origins purposively collected from Okoklo Forest Reserve (OFR), Benue State, Cross-River National Park (CRNP), Cross-River and Okomu National Park (ONP), Edo State, Nigeria. The data collected were the height, root collar diameter, internode elongation length, number of leaves and nodes of the early growth assessment of Triplochiton scleroxylon which was for a period of sixteen weeks. At the end of the 16th week of germination, OFR Triplochiton scleroxylon provenance had the highest height (22.66 cm), root collar diameter (0.85 cm), number of leaves (22) and nodes (16) while CRNP Triplochiton scleroxylon provenance had the longest internode length elongation (1.52 cm). There were significant differences (p \u3c 0.05) in the height (F = 7.67), root collar diameter (F = 6.65), number of leaves (F = 17.15) and internode length elongation (F = 49.31) across the Triplochiton scleroxylon provenances vis-à-vis the 16 weeks growth period of the seedlings. The growth time of the seedlings, height, root collar diameter, number of leaves, number of nodes and internode length elongation significantly (p \u3c 0.05) and positively inter-relate amongst each other. The study concluded that the early growth of OFR Triplochiton scleroxylon provenance performed best in height growth, root collar diameter growth, leaf and node production and could be used in the National plantation establishment and afforestation programs while the CRNP and ONP Triplochiton scleroxylon provenances could be improved upon genetically for better growth performance

Ecology of Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus Patas) in Buffer Zone Ranges, Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

The buffer zones of Nigerian protected areas are poorly managed. Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) was studied in fact owing to its dearth of information on its ecology and existence in South-West Nigeria National Park. Therefore, it was necessary to examine E. patas spatial distribution and population structure in the Old Oyo National Park buffer zone ranges, situated in South-West Nigeria and as well know its dietary uptake alongside delineating its various activities. Observations were positioned on direct census methods. A total of 60 individuals of E. patas (23 female, 21 male, and 16 young individuals) were sighted within the study period (March to July). The results showed that the highest number of sighted E. patas (18 individuals) was recorded in the month of March while the Marguba range had the highest percentage of sighted E. patas (31.7%). Thirteen plant species were identified as food matters of E. patas while the major activity observed by the majority of E. patas was found feeding on the identified food matters. The food matters consumed were plant parts which included the leaves, flowers, gum, enflamed spikes, and fruits. Actions to uphold and guard the remaining populace of E. patas in the Park and buffer zones should be adequately fortified