ASSESSl\-fENT OF THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD API)ROACI-I ON HUMAN IJIVES AND BIODiVERSITY IN KAINJI LAKE NATIONAL PARK OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety of life either in a particular place or on the entire earth, including its ecosystems, species, populations, and genes. Conservation thus seeks to protect life's variety at all levels of biological organization. Conservation of biodiversity world over, is facing a lot of challenges and problems as a result of the severity of the hardship/poverty and unemployment being faced by the Support Zone Communities (SZCs) of such Protected Areas (PA) due to the restriction of access to the resources there in being suffered by the SZCs, in the name of conservation. The last resort for subsistence of the rural communities are their natural resources. This study was aimed at assessing the impact of alternative livelihood to the aggrieved Support Zone Communities of Kainji Lake National Park in order to enlist their support for conservation efforts. The data analysis was achieved by using descriptive statistics, counterfactual estimation and Quick Biodiversity Survey (QBS) to analyse all the objectives of the study. Focus group guides were developed and administered in 24 supported communities. The research found out that the income of the average beneficiaries of this support has increased by 200% and there is improvement in participation of the community members in conservation efforts through their willingness to participate in joint patrols and establishment of Orchards and Woodlots. The results showed that newer environmentally sustainable employment opportunities have been created which are being co-financed and maintained by the communities themselves. This has pacified the communities into collaborating with the Protected Area management to protect the P A. Provision of alternative livelihoods to the teeming unemployed youths in the Support Zone Communities has engaged them and are earning income throughout the year even during off farming seasons. In order for this strategy to achieve more in conservation this support should be scaled up to all the Protected Areas in Nigeria including the fnarine ecosystems.