DEPARTMENT OF FOREST RESOURCES AND WILD LIFE MANAGEMENT

This study examined the perception and attitude of students of Igbinedion University Okada towards ecotourism in Nigeria. The research aimed to determine their level of awareness, participation, benefits derived, and challenges hindering ecotourism development. The study utilized proportional allocation and simple random sampling to ensure fair representation across the seven (7) colleges of Igbinedion University, Okada. A 5% sampling intensity was applied to the estimated 5,000 student population, resulting
in 250 questionnaires distributed proportionally based on the number of departments in each college. Simple random sampling was used to administer the questionnaire to the student in each college, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentage .The results revealed that most respondents (37.6%) were aware of ecotourism, while 80% expressed willingness to learn more about it. The Internet (34.15%) served as the major source of information on ecotourism. About 65.2% of respondents had previously visited at least one ecotourism site, with zoos (39.82%) being the most visited. A significant proportion (77.91%) indicated their willingness to revisit such sites, and 79.75% would recommend them to others. The results also revealed that, 83.6% of the respondents supported the establishment of an ecotourism site within the university, mainly for social and recreational purposes. Regarding the economic and developmental impact, 85.2% of respondents viewed ecotourism as a hope for Nigeria’s economy, and 87.6% believed it provides tangible benefits such as bringing people closer to nature (34.03%), recreation (20.83%), and employment (20.49%). The major challenges hindering ecotourism development as identified by the respondents included lack of adequate amenities (29.8%), ignorance (21.52%), and insecurity (17.88%). It was recommended that increased sensitization through digital platforms, integration of ecotourism into academic curricula, improved infrastructure, and policy support to strengthen sustainable ecotourism growth in Nigeria.

Diversified tree-based system are practices that intentionally include functional biodiversity at multiple spatial and/or temporal scales in order to maintain ecosystem services that provide critical inputs to agriculture, such as soil fertility, pest and disease control and pollination. This system is a component of social-ecological systems that depend on certain combinations of traditional and contemporary knowledge, cultures and practices. As ecosystem services are generated and regenerated within a tree-based system, it was imperative to estimate carbon stock in a diversified tree-based system in an arboretum in Forest Resources and Wildlife Management Department, University of Benin. This study determined the tree biomass and predicted the carbon pool in the study area. The biomass carbon accumulation was evaluated using non-destructive method in a completely randomized design. A total of 87 trees were sampled from 8 sample plots measuring 15 x 15 m with an area of 0.22 ha in the study using two input variables (diameter and height). Mean tree height and diameter were pooled together and the best fit allometric regression model was used to estimate Aboveground biomass (AGB) in this study. The result showed that the largest DBH was 64.9 cm while the tallest tree was 26.79 m. In estimating the AGB in the diversified tree-based system, Ketterings et al., 2001 model (AGB=aDb (0.066D2.59) indicated the highest modelling efficiency (R2=1.000, AIC=-40.25, Std. error 1.34). Regression analysis also revealed that most of the carbon was stored in the aboveground biomass with an estimation of 137,216.81 kg ha-1 in the study area. Furthermore, the total carbon stock (AGB + BGB) and carbon sequestered were 77,390.28 and 284,022.3 Mg C ha-1 respectively. Furthermore, to predict the monetary values to be derived from Kyoto carbon credit scheme, the tons of CO2 sequestered in the tree based diversified system amounted to $8,520,669. This study concluded that for the Department to benefit from the carbon credits scheme (Kyoto protocol), it is recommended that an ecosystem services payment policy should be in
place in order to sustain the environmental benefits derivable from the tree-based systems.