MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS OF KAINJI LAKE AND GASHAKA GUMTI NATIONAL PARKS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Evaluation of management effectiveness of Kainji Lake and Gashaka Gumti National Parks Nigeria was conducted between September 2010 and August 2013. The study was carried out to characterize active and passive management in the two parks, examine the management treatments of the sites and the level of development and maintenance to achieve conservation objectives for which they were established. Data were collected using direct and indirect observations. Direct observation methods included animal survey using road and transect counts, administration of Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) questionnaire and site observation while assessment of existing data were done using indirect method which included review of management plans, annual reports and park records to ground truth responses to questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test for paired samples. Animal census data was analyzed using IUCN red list status 2013. Results revealed that the parks are more actively managed than passively with 84.21% and 77.78% active in Kainji Lake and Gashaka Gumti National Parks respectively. Waterholes identified in Kainji Lake National Park were 41, with 35 natural and 6 artificial. Two regimes of burning, early and late are the fire management practices in the two parks. Boundaries of -the Parks were demarcated with rivers, live fence, stone pile, signposts and beacons. A vast majority of the protection staff (rangers) 92% in Kainji Lake do not know the park boundaries while all the protection staff knows the boundaries in Gashaka Gumti. Grazing and poaching are the most pervasive threats in the two parks with logging and settlement being high in Kainji Lake and Gashaka Gumti respectively. Biological importance shows 98.2% and 96.3% level of biodiversity in Kainji Lake and Gashaka Gumti National Parks respectively. The two protected areas have high educational and scientific values with 98.2% and 91.6 % strength factors. Recruitment and retention of employee was difficult and therefore was a significant weakness in both parks with 39.3% and 55.5% in Kainji Lake and Gashaka Gumti respectively. Although the two protected areas were legally secured, boundary demarcation in Kainji Lake National park was however not adequate to achieve conservation objectives with a weakness factor of 38.4% while adequate boundary demarcation showed a strength factor of 60.2% in Gashaka Gumti National Park. Paired sample test results showed significant difference between the number of staff in Gashaka Gumti and Kainji Lake National Parks (t ≥ 2). Funding of the two parks was inadequate to carry out critical management activities at $158 (N25, 280.00) per Km Sq2 for Kainji Lake and $126 (N20,160.00) per Km Sq2 for Gashaka Gumti National Park for the year 2010 as against $250 (N40,000.00) per Km sq2 expected for managing tropical parks. Protection of the parks showed a staff: land ratio of 1: 30 in Kainji Lake National Park and 1: 36 in Gashaka Gumti National Park. The two parks have comprehensive recent management plan but inventory of the natural and cultural resources showed weakness in Kainji Lake with 39.3% and 79.5% strength factor in Gashaka Gumti National Park. There was clear internal organization in both parks but regular collaboration with partners was weak with 51.8% and 39.8% in Kainji Lake and Gashaka Gumti respectively. The staff of the two parks however lacked regular access to recent scientific research. Management effectiveness results revealed weaknesses in four major areas: communication and information, staffing, funding, and management planning. Record of arrest was higher (1605) in Kainji Lake than Gashaka Gumti (905) between 2001 and 2010. Thirty animal species were sighted in the two National Parks; twenty seven (27) of these were sighted in Kainji Lake National Park with 4 primates, 9 ungulates, 6 carnivores and 8 others. Twenty nine (29) species were encountered in Gashaka Gumti; 7 primates, 10 ungulates, 4 carnivores and 8 others. Adequate funding by the Federal Government, creation of alternative sources of fund by involving private partners, corporate bodies and non- governmental organization in achieving conservation objectives in Nigeria National Parks, review of staff welfare package as well as improvement of facilities for rangers/ protection staff were recommended for achieving park objectives for establishment. Improvement of the managerially weak areas will go a long way in ensuring the long term success of the premier and largest protected areas in the country.