Human occupational activities in the stubbs creek forest reserves (SCFR) of akwa ibom state: impacts and implications on socio-economic environment

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International Journal of Development Research

Human occupational activities in the stubbs creek forest reserves (SCFR) of akwa ibom state: impacts and implications on socio-economic environment

Abstract: 

Akwa Ibom State with a total land area of 8412.0km2 is endowed with Stubbs Greek Forest Reserve (SCFR). The exploitation of the SCFR has reached an alarming proportion principally due to human occupational activities such as farming, lumbering, oil exploration, road and residential constructions. Relying specifically on field-based data from 240 respondents from three Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State, it has been observed that, continuous exploitation of the SCFR through human occupational concerns has resulted in the destruction and loss of human habitat and bio-diversity. Also, deforestation, loss of genetic base in plants and animals, loss of wildlife as well as air and water pollution are noticeable adverse consequences. Socially and economically, inhabitants of the exploited zone continue to remain in abject poverty, hunger, thirst and malnutrition. The study therefore recommended that concrete and comprehensive SCFR management policy be evolved to check the unnecessary human exploitation of the zone. More so, proper sensitization, orientation, and education of the people on the needs to preserve the lives of animals and plants in the SCFR should be intensified. Such orientation will expose these exploiters to the dangers of deforestation on the lives of the people.

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