Perception of Host Communities Toward the Implementation of Park Laws In Okomu National Park

Abstract

This research examined the reactions of the host communities towards the implementation of park laws relating to wildlife conservation in Okomu National Park. The Park covers a total area of 202sq km which is only about 15% of the 1,082sqkm covered by the Okomu forest reserve. This research was centered on four (4) selected communities; and purposive sampling technique was used to select samples/respondents for the study at 0.98, 1.23, 1.45 and 3% sampling intensities respectively. A hundred and seventy (170) questionnaires were distributed in all the locations  considered in this study, Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages. The host communities were explicit in their complaints against the lack of expected benefits from the Park (74.2%), restriction on access to forest resources (52.6%), decrease in the area of land available to them for farming and other activities (55.9%). Some respondents believed there was a good working relationship between the park management and the host communities (69.3%) as a result of friendly/efficient enforcement of park laws by rangers.Increased participation of the host communities in the management of the Park, strengthening of wildlife law enforcement through provision of the required equipments and the sharing of certain benefits accruing from tourism to the people would promote a better environment for wildlife conservation in Okomu National Park.

Keywords; Perception, Host communities, Park laws, Implementation, Wildilife conservation