Assessing Agroforestry Strategies for Poverty Alleviation Amongst Buffer Zone Communities of Cross River National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

National Parks and Protected Areas are at the core of global strategies applied to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development and informed the creation of Cross River National Park (CRNP) in Nigeria, in 1991. In order to address the problem of frequent trespass into the park’s territory for livelihoods (income generating) activities by buffer zone communities, a buffer zone agroforestry program was introduced about three decades ago.  Agroforestry strategies applied include riparian buffers, improved fallows, and inter-cropping activities. Through document research and participatory rural appraisal exercises (e.g. historical timeline analysis, focus group discussions, interviews, field observations and resource mapping), the study assesses the impact of the program vis-à-vis poverty alleviation in buffer zone communities and the achievement of the biodiversity conservation objectives of the park. Findings reveal enhanced rural income generation from agroforestry products e.g. sale of cocoa, palm oil, citrus, bush mango (irvingia gabonensis), and observable rural housing transformations, and investments in self-help community development activities e.g. establishment of village schools and health centers. Findings further reveal that frequent trespass into the park for livelihood activities have reduced due to the lucrativeness and time-consuming nature of agroforestry activities. Agroforestry thus demonstrates great potentials of enhancing both buffer zone poverty alleviation and the achievement of biodiversity conservation objectives in CRNP and should therefore be backed by adequate funding and rigorous research-based innovative policies and programs.

Keywords: Parks, communities, poverty and agroforestry strategies