Indices of human disturbances on Protected Areas: a case study of Idanre Forest and Omo Biosphere reserves, Southwest Nigeria.

Orimaye, J. O and Kolawole, O.O. and Okosodo, E.F (2020) Indices of human disturbances on Protected Areas: a case study of Idanre Forest and Omo Biosphere reserves, Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Researches in Agricultural Sciences, 8 (1). pp. 1-9.

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Abstract

Government Protected Areas (GPAs) are a legal sanctuary for wildlife, but competition between wildlife and man for the resources within these forests have been of great concern to conservationists worldwide. This study was undertaken to find out the extent of human disturbances in the Idanre Forest reserve (IFR) and Omo Biosphere reserve (OBR) using the line transect method. A total of eighteen (18) transects comprising of 9 transects each and totaling 103.4 km was traversed in both Idanre Forest Reserve (52.8 km) and Omo Biosphere Reserve (50.6 km) between January 2014 and November 2015. Data were collected on human activity-encounters in five major categories: Poaching/hunting; Logging; Farming; Collection of Non-Timber Forest Products and Human settlements and analyzed into frequency counts and percentages. The result of encounter-rate observations shows that Farming was predominant in IFR with standing crop, harvested land, farmers seen, bush burning and land clearing at 20.75, 18.32, 14.02, 12.02 and 10.84 observations per kilometer respectively. However, poaching/hunting was predominant in the Omo Biosphere reserve with the animal kill, hunters seen/gunshot heard, spent cartridges, traps/snares, and ash deposits/spent batteries seen at 1.11, 0.66,0.23, 0.14 and 0.07 observations per kilometer respectively. These human activities which account for habitat loss and degradation were more prevalent in IFR than in OBR. Therefore, it is necessary to step up conservation and protection measures in the reserves to reduce the impact of human activities which is detrimental to the well-being of wildlife resources of the reserves.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Chemistry
Depositing User: Mr. Bolanle Yisau I.
Date Deposited: 22 Feb 2022 13:40
Last Modified: 22 Feb 2022 13:40
URI: http://eprints.federalpolyilaro.edu.ng/id/eprint/1953

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