Perception Assessment of the Impact of Human Activities on Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Perception assessment of the impacts of human activities on Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve (SCFR) which is located between latitude 4 ° 32'N and 4 ° 40'N and longitude 7 ° 48'E and 8 ° 20'E ( Figure 1 ) distributed into four Local Government Areas - Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno and Mbo of Akwa Ibom State was carried out. Structural questionnaires to extract the common types of useful plants and animals, status of the protected area, derivable benefits and ways of preserving the SCFR were ministered to Chiefs Priests, Local Chiefs, Elderly People and Farmers who lived at least twenty years in the areas. Convenient sampling method was used to randomly select fifty respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics to summarize feedbacks from respondents presented in the form of tables, charts and histogram in line with the SCFR anthropogenic activities assessment indicators showing percentages and frequencies of such response was employed for data analyses and presentation. The results showed that the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve have been disturbed and degraded due to uncontrolled human activities. Endangered fauna species including the Giraffa camelopardalis (Giraffe), Hippopotamus amphibious (Hippopotamus), Loxodonta africana (Elephant), Hynas, Kangaroo, Panther pardus (Leopard), Panther leo (Lion), Porcupine and Tiger were last seen between twenty and thirty five years ago in the forest while some useful plants of huge economic and medicinal values like Irvingia gabonensis (Bush mango) Tetrapleura itraptera , Gambeya albidum , Raphia hookeri (Rafia palm), Garcinia cola (Bitter kola) and Dacryodes edulis (Native pear) etc were last observed about eleven to twenty years ago. The study further revealed that Monkeys and Alligators are still very common in the Forest Reserve. It , therefore , recommends the strengthening and enforcement of regulatory controls on the use of SCFR by relevant authorities and alternative source of firewood to reduce anthropogenic abuses and protect the rich resources of the forest from extinction.