Title:
THE IMPLICATIONS OF POPULATION GROWTH ON RURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION

Authors:
Dr. Leonard Edadi Ukam, Nigeria

Abstract:

There are obvious and significant indicators that our rural resources are fast becoming depleted. The extent to which rural land and marine yields have taken a down-ward turn poses a serious danger to survival of the rural population. One basic objective of environmental conservation is thus to ensure that man’s wanton spirit of exploitation of the resources in the phase of increased population is controlled so as to strike a balance between the needs of the present generation and the chances survival of the future generations. This paper is the products of a survey carried out on the Ibini Erei Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State Nigeria. The focus was to ascertain the extent to which their economic activities (farming and fishing) have been affected by population increase. Questionnaires were used in the collection of such data as farm size, farm output, fish-catch measured in basins (60〖cm〗^3) and later converted to metric tons, types of fishing materials used, present and past population sizes as well as certain traditional conservation practices. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using the Pearson Products Moment Correlation, tested at 0.05 level of confidence. The results showed the population has a significant negative effect on the rural resources. It has led to the excessive fragmentation of land, neglect of basic traditions approaches to conservation, poor yields in both land and marine products, poor income and other social vices. Practical recommendations to ease population pressure on rural resources including establishment of cottage industries, development of infrastructural facilities and a stronger government presence through the Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP) before and the current Covid-19 Grant as well as other federal and state loan empowerment programs have been suggested in this paper.