Abstract
The study determined the impact of climate change on
wildlife resource conservation in Nsukka Agricultural zone of Enugu State.
Specifically, the study identified the impacts of climate change on wildlife
habitat, wildlife forages, wildlife health and reproduction, environmental
degradation threats on wildlife conservation and sustainable wildlife
conservation practices to preserve wildlife resources. Five research questions
and five null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive
survey research design. Five research questions were answered and five null
hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Structured questionnaire
was used to collect data for the study. The population for the study was 138
comprising 115 registered farmers (hunters) and 23 extension agents in Nsukka
Agricultural Zone of Enugu State. No sample was drawn as the population was
manageable. The research instrument was subjected to face validation by three
experts, all from the Department of Agricultural Education, University of
Nigeria, Nsukka. The instrument was trial tested on 20 respondents outside the
study area. The data collected were subjected to reliability test using
Cronbach Alpha which yielded a coefficient of 0.78. The instrument was administered
by the researcher with the help of three research assistants. One hundred and
thirty four out of 138 copies of the instrument administered were duly
completed and returned reflecting a return rate of 97%. The data collected were
analyzed using Mean to answer research questions while t-test was used to test
the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance(p). Findings of the study, among
others, revealed that flooding destroys nesting home for wildlife; drought
affects forest tree growth and regeneration; drought conditions alter breeding
sites; climate change favours the growth of plant pests and diseases; heavy
rainfall events cause flooding of wildlife habitat; thunder storm sets habitats
on fire; alteration of habitat by extreme weather events makes habitat
unconducive; strong winds pull down tree and expose the habitat and excessive
sunshine affects vegetative growth. Based on the findings of the study, it was
recommended among others that t he findings on the impact of climate change on
wildlife habitat should be packaged and used as tool for public enlightenment
and education by the National Orientation Agency to sensitize Nigerians on the
dangers of climate change.
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Agriculture produces the basic necessities for human
survival. It is the production of crops and rearing of livestock for man’s
benefit (Tatathi, Naik and Jalgaonkar, 2011). It forms the basis for industrial
and economic development (steward, 2000). It includes the raising of animals
and cultivation of crops for food, fibre, bio-fuel, drugs and other products
meant for sustainability of human life. In Nigeria, agriculture provides a
source of employment for more than 70% of her population and contributes 33.69%
to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (National Bureau of statistics, 2013). The
major agricultural produce in Nigeria are Rice, Cowpea, Millet, Sorghum, Maize,
Palm Oil, Rubber, Goat, Sheep, Pig, Poultry, Timber and wildlife, among others.
Apart from crop production and domestication of livestock, agriculture also
involves conservation of wildlife.
Wildlife is one of the ecological capitals comprising every
form of life from the tiniest microbes to the mightiest beast and the
ecosystems of which they are part of (Osinem, 2005). According to the
International Hunter Education Association (2003) wildlife refers to plant and
animals that are not normally domesticated by man but are essential for his
survival. They are living things that can die and be replaced by others of their
type. In the context of this study, wildlife refers to wild animals only.
Osinem (2005) stated that wild animals provide humanity with a cornucopia of
goods and services for food, energy and materials to genes which protect the
crops and heal diseases. The producte from wild animals are regarded as
wildlife resources.
1
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Wildlife resources are those products or materials obtained
from wild animals to satisfy specific needs of man (Preres, 2001). Wildlife
resources include such products like fibre, food, fuel, meat, industrial raw
materials like hide and skin, hoof and timber, among others (Osinem and Mama,
2008). According to the authors, wildlife resources have nutritional, economic,
health, ecological, cultural and religious importance to the users. It is a
source of income and a means of livelihood to humanity. Almost all forms of
wildlife resources are subject to capture or control by man who depend on them
for survival. Osinem and Mama (2008) indicated that wildlife resource exists in
various forms as mammals, reptiles, birds, aquatics and arachnids. The authors
further explained that a variety of wildlife depend on vegetation for their
existence and survival. Machl et al, (2007) stated that tropical cyclones have
the potentials to devastate wide expanse of vegetation, causing loss of
wildlife resources. Conservation of wildlife resources is dependent on climate.
Climate is the average weather condition of a place taken
over a long period of time (American Meteorological Society AMS, 2011). Weather
as a climate variable is the atmospheric condition determining the intensity of
sunshine and amount of rainfall in a given environment. Climate defines the
measures of temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, rainfall, sunshine intensity
in a given area over a long period of time (Inter-governmental Panel on Climate
Change, IPCC, 2007). Farmers suffer a lot of crop and animal failure whenever
there are changes in rainfall pattern and change in climate in general.
Climate change refers to a noticeable variation in weather
condition which last for a decade or more affecting both plants and animals in
their environment and usually caused by nature and human activities. IPCC
(2007) explained climate change as a significant
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variation that persists for an extended period, typically
decades or longer. Lemke (2006) defined climate change as a complete variation
in the average state of the atmosphere over time, ranging from decades to
millions of years in a region or across the entire globe which can be caused by
internal and external forces from space or human activities. Ozor (2009)
explained climate change as a variation in weather over time, which could be
due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. Climate change has
some effects on the frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather events
which could negatively affect agricultural production in some of the most
vulnerable areas. Wildlife resources are generally more vulnerable to climate
change than other sectors of the economy like education and manufacturing
sector. Vulnerability is the extent to which climate change may damage or harm
a system (IPCC, 2007). In Nigeria, the vulnerability of wildlife to climate
change can be seen in terms of climatic impact on wildlife habitat and forages.
Impact refers to an immediate and strong effect of something
or somebody on another thing or person after an encounter (Gadby, 2007). It is
the difference made or outcome after an event (Championing Voluntary and Civic
Society (CVCS, 2013). It is a measure of the tangible and intangible effects
(consequence) of one thing or entity, action or influence upon another. It is
more-or-less the observed differences between the past and present or future
state of an object after the effect of change (IPCC, 2017). Impact in this
study is the noticeable effect of climate change on wildlife conservation. It
is however, important to note that climate change does not have the same impact
on all parts of the world equally and some of the changes are positive (Ajaero,
Akukwe and Asuoha, 2009). According to the authors, a normal climate event such
as normal and adequate rainfall, normal temperature and sunshine favour high
growth of wildlife in a breeding season. They
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further stressed that this positively increases the
availability and sustainable supply of wildlife resource product to human
beings. The normal climate also favours the growth of wildlife habitat which is
very essential in wildlife resource conservation. This agree with the opinion
of Osinem (2005) who noted that any effort made to ensure survival of wildlife
resources requires first growing and protecting wildlife habitat. Furthermore,
the author affirmed that extreme weather events such as flooding, drought, heat
stress, tornadoes among others may drastically result in death and migration of
wildlife, lose of forages, habitat destruction and starvation of wildlife which
may also lead to extinction of the said species. To ensure sustainability of
wildlife resource for man’s use, there is need for their conservation.
Conservation deals with the wise use of any material or natural
resources to ensure its adequate use and reduce the disappearance (extinction)
of such resources (Irandu, 2003). With reference to wildlife, Jibowo (2005)
explained that wildlife conservation is the art of making the land produce
valuable population of animals. This definition implies that wildlife
conservation focuses on the control of pest population to limit the negative
effects on wildlife. Therefore, in addition to making the environment
conducive, wildlife conservation equally involves direct population management
(control of harvest, transporting) and indirect management of population
through habitat manipulation to favour target species (Egwuma, 2013). Wildlife
conservation is also defined as the practice of protecting endangered plant and
animal species and their habitats, (Baldus, Kibonde and Siege 2003). Wildlife
conservation is the wise use of wildlife resource in a way that it will be
available to the present and the future generation (Osinem, 2005). Osinem and
Mama (2008) emphasized that wildlife conservation efforts is meaningful when
the citizens appreciate the
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positive values of wildlife and the important role it plays
in the maintenance of delicate balance of nature. It is therefore noted that
wildlife conservation is very crucial to make the resources available for
future generations. To ensure that wildlife resources are available for future
generations through conservation, its sustainability is necessary in every part
of the world including Nsukka Agricultural Zone.
In Nsukka Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, availability of
wildlife resources over the years has been encouraging and as the resources
serve as source of protein supply to her teaming population. Recently, the
production and availability of wildlife resources have changed because most of
the meats from wildlife that dominate the local market in different towns in
the zone are now scarce. This might be as a result of bush burning, forest
destruction or irregularity in rainfall pattern due to climate change which limit
wildlife habitat growth and wildlife population. Osinem (2005) lamented that
food and habitat upon which the animals depend on are constantly destroyed by
human and natural events of climate change and many of the wildlife have gone
into extinction and the remaining few species are endangered. It is quite
obvious that the activities of man have threatened and sent some wildlife
species into extinction, tagged some as endangered and are still threatening it
the more. Human population growth has profound direct and indirect effects on
consumption pattern of wildlife resource. Human population growth in Nsukka
Agricultural Zone predispose wildlife to poaching and habitat destruction. This
eventually leads to increased hunting for home markets. Many factors such as
bush burning, over hunting, deforestation, and change in climate affect the
availability and conservation of wildlife resource in Nigeria of which Nsukka
agricultural zone is not exempted.
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Nsukka agricultural zone of Enugu state is endowed with
abundant wildlife resources. Some species of the wildlife resources are no
longer available and the few available ones are hardly conserved due to
numerous human and natural factors such as climate change. therefore, there is
the need to investigate the impact of the climate change on wildlife resource
availability and some of the sustainable conservation practices of the
resources.
Statement of the Problem
Wildlife conservation is very important for nature
posterity. Protection of wildlife habitat is very necessary for the
conservation of Wildlife. The habitats of wild animals face a lot of threats
both, anthropogenic and natural. The natural factors which threatens wildlife
habitat may include extreme weather events such as volcanoes, ocean current and
the earth’s tilt, among others. Some extreme weather events associated with
natural climate change may include prolonged drought, flooding, and heat
stress. Human or anthropogenic activities contribute greatly to changing the
climatic condition of a geographical location over a period of time. Man clears
forest to build for residential and commercial purposes, establish
infrastructure and crop production, among others. These predispose animals to
poaching and migration since there are no hiding places for them.
Any effort made to conserve wildlife resources without first
growing and protecting wildlife habitat will amount to wasted efforts. Extreme
weather events such as flooding, drought, heat stress, tornadoes among others
may drastically result in death and migration
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of wildlife, loss of forages, habitat destruction and
starvation of wildlife which may also lead to extinction of some species.
Threats to wildlife and its habitat are aggravated by the effect of climate
change. Human-induced climate change has resulted primarily from changes in the
amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, but also from changes in land
use. Climate change have wide-ranging effects in all agricultural zones of
Africa of which Nsukka zone is not exempted. The impacts of climate change are
related to decline in water resources, agriculture, food security, human
health, terrestrial ecosystem, biodiversity loss, wildlife and coastal zones.
These underscore the need to investigate the impact of climate change on
wildlife resources conservation in Nsukka agricultural zone.
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to determine the impact of
climate change on wildlife resource conservation in Nsukka Agricultural zone.
Specifically, the study sought to find out the
1. Impact of
climate change on wildlife habitat
2. Impact of
climate change on availability of wildlife forages (feed)
3. Impact of climate
change on wildlife health and reproduction
4. Environmental
degradation threats on wildlife conservation
5. Sustainable
wildlife conservation practices to preserve wildlife resources
Significance of the Study
The result of this study will be beneficial to the farmers,
agricultural extension agents, non-governmental organization and other
researchers. The findings of the study will provide information to the farmers
on wildlife conservation practices. The famers will utilize
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the information to preserve wildlife within the locality.
The study will also suggest to the farmers some of the wildlife resource
conservation practices that could help them have a sustainable supply of
wildlife resource to the market.
The study will provide technical information to the
agricultural extension agents on the conservation practices that could be
adopted by the farmers. The information will help extension agents in teaching
the farmers innovative conservation practices so that wildlife resource will be
preserved for the future. The findings of the study will equip non-governmental
organizations with relevant information on the sustainable conservation
practices of natural resources. It could help them in selecting projects
related to the conservation of wildlife resources for funding.
The study will also provide information to the foresters on
the conservation practices to protect forest natural resources of which
wildlife is inclusive. This will ensure a steady supply of wildlife resources
to local users for today and tomorrow. The findings of the study will serve as
a good resource material for researchers who may want to carry out studies on
the related area.
Research Questions
1. What are the
impacts of climate change on wildlife habitat?
2. What are the
impacts of climate change on the availability of wildlife forages?
3. What are the
impacts of climate change on wildlife health and reproduction?
4. What are the
environmental degradation threats on wildlife conservation?
5. What are the
sustainable wildlife conservation practices to preserve wildlife resources?