Habitat fragmentation and the population status of rodents in Abayum forest, Ikom, Cross River State, Nigeria

The threat to wildlife population is attributed to various anthropogenic activities. The main objective of this study was to identify the influence of fragment size on the population density of rodents in the study area. Fourteen (14) out of forty (40) fragments existing in the area were randomly sampled. The parameters used for the study were number, size of fragments and the corresponding population distribution of rodents in the study area. Fifty hunters in the area were also interviewed. The fragments were stratified into first, second and third order fragments on the basis of their sizes and randomly selected for the study. Indirect method of wildlife census was carried out through the observation of droppings, trail or tract, burrows, eating habits and noise. Fragment growth rate was 18 to 40 (87.5%) in 7 years. Anthropogenic perturbations in the form of cultivation of permanent cropland, settlement expansion, bush burning, timber exploitation and new settlements in areas previously thinly settled or not accessible to outsiders have resulted in disjointed ecosystems. The population density of rodents correlated with fragment size was highly significant ((P < 0.05) r = 0.9). It was then concluded that fragment size greatly influenced the population and diversity of rodent species. It was recommended that the remaining large fragments in the study area should be protected by law from further fragmentation.

Assessing Tropical Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss in the Cross River Rainforest of Nigeria

The Cross River Rainforest of South Eastern Nigeria is one of Africa’s last remaining areas of pristine tropical high forest, extremely rich in a wide variety of flora and fauna species, and is among the twenty five biodiversity hotspots in the world. The forest has important biophysical properties which affect local, regional and global environmental quality. Using a combination of document research, GIS report, field observations, interviews and focus group discussions, the study reveals that the ecological integrity of this forest is being seriously threatened by a myriad of human activities, such as unsustainable agricultural practices, illegal logging, population explosion/expansion of human settlements, construction of highways, mining activities, and high unemployment/pressure on natural resources. All the above factors have combined to impact heavily on the depletion and extinction of valuable flora and fauna species in the region. Rigorous research-based innovative forestry and biodiversity policies and programmes, forest restoration initiatives, community-based forest management, and sustainable land use practices are recommended to save the Cross River Rainforest from total destruction.

Evaluation of the Anti-Poaching Programme of the Cross River National Park Okwango Division, Nigeria 2002 to 2013

Poaching of wildlife has continued to be the major problem confronting national parks managers in Nigeria in spite of effort being made to curb the ugly trend. This paper examined the anti-poaching programme of the Cross River National Park Okwango Division Nigeria from 2002 to 2013, with a view to making recommendations for the improvement of the programme. Focused group discussions, personal interviews, review of official records and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Analysis of variance using randomized complete block design and student’s t-test were used to analyse data. Result showed that 1 - 5 arrests of poachers per month per patrol station was significantly (P 0.05) in the number of poachers arrested and fined between 2002 to 2006 and 2007 to 2011. The low performance of the anti-poaching programme was attributed to poorly equipped rangers’ posts as well as well the absence of alternative livelihood options in the enclave and surrounding communities. It was recommended that more rangers should be employed, and the rangers should be adequately kitted, well equipped patrol stations be constructed and the enclave and surrounding communities be involved in the management of the National Park in addition to providing them with alternative livelihood options.

Determination of Nutrient Contents in the Leaf Litter of <i>Diospyros crassiflora</i>S. (Hiern-FWTA) Plantation in Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria

Determination of nutrient contents in Diospyros crassiflora leaf litter was carried out in the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria in 2016 and 2017. Three 1 m × 1 m trays were randomly positioned for collection of leaf litter production from 4/5 years old Diospyros crassiflora species in each block (10 m × 25 m) within the plantation totaling 1.5 ha. A Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates was used to study the mean monthly leaf litterfall of Diospyros crassiflora. Leaf litter was collected from each of the three litter trays per block and placed in paper bags every 28th day of each month from January-December in 2016 and in 2017. Fifteen grammes (15 g) of properly mixed and oven-dried samples of D. crassiflora leaf litter were milled and sieved in 1 mm sieve;0.3 g was used to determine nutrient elements and their concentrations. The data obtained from mineral nutrient contents of D. crassiflora leaf litter was analysed using analysis of variance. Result reveals the mean concentrations of nitrogen (1.41 and 1.41 mg·l-1), phosphorus (0.18 and 0.18 mg·l-1), potassium (0.68 and 0.68 mg·l-1), sodium (0.35 and 0.30 mg·l-1), calcium (1.57 and 1.56 mg·l-1), magnesium (0.32 and 0.31 mg·l-1), chlorine (0.25 and 0.24 mg·l-1), Organic carbon (0.03 and 0.03 mg·l-1) and Organic matter (1.17 and 1.18 mg·l-1) etc. in D. crassiflora leaf litter in January-December (2016 and 2017). The study shows almost uniform distribution of mineral elements concentrations in 2016 and 2017.

Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of “Ailments of Utmost Native Importance” in Cross River State, Nigeria

Regardless of the high value of medicinal plants to residents of Cross River State in health maintenance especially for the treatment of “ailments of utmost native importance”, the major constraint is the uncertainty of the availability of the herbs and knowledge of traditional medicine still being passed by word of mouth. For better reliance on the plant species as medicine, this research seeks to identify and infer on the population and distribution of the species used in their treatment and documents them. Data were collected using field work and oral interviews. The survey team comprised of Taxonomists, survey assistants, five trado-medical herbal practitioners and the Authors. The status and geographical distribution of the identified medicinal plant species was appalling, 59 percent of the medicinal plant species were distributed in 3 out of 15 sampled plots. Causal factors included over misuse of therapeutic plant species, habitats destruction and absence of proper conservation education of the masses. Recommendations are that Communities should set up therapeutic plants farms, enrichment planting be made in agricultural fields and sustainable harvesting methods used.