Deforestation and Wildlife Resource Management in Boki Local Government Area, Cross River State

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between deforestation and wildlife resource management in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State. To achieve the purpose of this study, three null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Related literatures were reviewed; the survey research design was used. The stratified and simple random sampling techniques were employed in selecting 200 respondents out of total population 259,438 people in Boki Local Government Area. A structured questionnaire titled "Deforestation and Wildlife Resource Management (DWRM-Q)" was used as an instrument to collect data for the study. The data collected were subjected to hypothesis by hypothesis testing with each hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of significance using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis. The findings of the study showed that clear cutting, agricultural activities bush fire are of significant relationship with wildlife resource management in the study area. Based on the findings, the study recommends that clear cutting should be reduced or eradicated while logging should be done through selected exploitation so that wildlife habitat can still be maintained. Secondly, agricultural activities should be controlled to avoid complete deforestation in order to enhance wildlife resource management. And finally, bush fire especially indiscriminate bush burning should be eradicated, light burning of rubbish if necessary should be encouraged so that wildlife habitat can be maintained in the study.