EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK (OONP) 1972 - 2015

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Author

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Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
This study is aimed at establishing relationship between human activities in the park wider region and its environmental conditions. There is limited knowledge on the impact of human activities on the park environmental conditions. This study fills the gap by focusing on the details of human activities in global context. It examines the impact of human activities on the environmental conditions of the OONP. The variables measured in this study were farming, logging, hunting, settlement, charcoal business, vegetation cover and animal species. The study adopts a random technique in selecting the sample for socio-economic survey. Quadrat sampling was also used to examine the flora density, while line transect sampling technique was used to determine the quantity of fauna species in the park. Data collected was analysed with the aid of simple descriptive statistics. The principal findings of the research are; firstly, the study has shown that the extent of vegetation cover of the park has decreased in size from 2526.31km2 in 1972 to 2077km2 in 2015. The density of the hitherto predominant tree species in 1972 was 106 but the figure diminished to 72 in 2015. The animal species richness in the park has reduced. Animals like lion, elephant and buffalo are no longer in the park as at 2015 which is detrimental to the success of the park management. Secondly, the research result reveals that there is strong relationship between the population of people in the park host communities and the exploitation of the park resources with a correlation coefficient of 0.986. Thirdly, the research finding has proved that there is a weak relationship between the population of the people in the park host communities and vegetation cover of the park with a correlation coefficient of 0.118. The study has shown that noise pollution from traffic flow have driven animals away from their natural habitats which led to decline of animal species in the park. Confronting the negative impacts of human activities on park resources, the study recommends the need to assess and manage inherent trade-offs for sustainability of the park and healthy environmental conditions through policy formulations.