Wildlife-Human Interface: A Case Study of Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The objective of establishing protected areas should be made to tally with needs and aspirations of the local community. Interaction between the local populace and the ecosystem plays a significant role in the determination of effective management. Overgrazing by cattle and deforestation by human activities over time has denuded the Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State, Nigeria, of its lush natural flora. Consequently, its productivity as grassland has drastically been reduced. Denudation has exposed the surface soils in a number of places to crustation, creating conditions unfavourable for plant growth and has also led to the domination of the ranch by undesirable plant communities that now pose a big threat to the palatable species. These conditions also affect the wild animal species, such as roan antelopes, to encroach on farmlands and destroy agricultural produce. The free area is under socio-cultural activities. There is much sense in the concept that local people should be allowed to utilize resources from protected areas. Nevertheless, this is hard when the future of so many people is at stake from destructive land and resource uses. The most effective means of reducing the conflict between local people and wildlife is through land-use planning, where activities that are non-attractive to wild animals should be encouraged in areas adjacent to the ranch.