Spatial Relationships of Bush Sheds, Wire Snares and Wildlife Distribution in the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park OKEKE, Odinakachukwu Francis Wildlife Conservation Society, Nigeria Program 302 Bishop Moynagh Avenue, State Housing Estate Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Correspondence: fokeke@wcs.org Abstract: This paper examines the spatial relationship between bush sheds, wire snares and wildlife distribution in the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park (Okwangwo), and discusses the implications of the results with respect to recent approval granted by the Nigeria National Park Service for seasonal collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in the Park by local communities. Geo-referenced data on wire snares (traps), bush sheds (both hunting and NTFP collection) and wildlife presence were collected with CyberTracker and Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) from 2011 to 2017. The data were analyzed with Geographic Information System (GIS) software (ArcGIS 10.3), using Point Distance analysis to assess spatial correlation between bush sheds, trapping with wire snares, and wildlife distribution in the study area. Results showed a strong positive correlation between bush sheds and traps (R 2 = 0.85). There was also strong positive correlation between density of traps and density of signs of animal hunted for bushmeat in the area (R 2 = 0.78), indicating that wildlife abundance is an important factor in the choice of bush shed location in Okwangwo. The results of this study highlight the potential negative impact that the approval for collection of NTFPs and construction of bush sheds in Okwangwo could have on the biodiversity of the Park. INTRODUCTION Protected areas play an important role in biodiversity conservation. They serve as refuges for wildlife, providing habitat and protection from hunting for threatened and endangered species (Dudley 2008). The Cross River National Park (CRNP) represents the largest block of intact tropical rainforest in Cross River State which holds over 50% of the remaining forest tropical rainforest (Nigeria REDD Readiness Project 2015). It is a globally important site for biodiversity conservation and ranks among the richest sites in Africa for primates, birds, amphibians, and butterflies (Oates 2004). The Park is home to 18 species of primates including endangered and critically endangered taxa such as the Cross River gorilla Gorilla gorilla diehli, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee Pan troglodytes ellioti, drill Mandrillus leucophaeus, Preuss s red colobus monkey Piliocolobus preussi and Preuss s guenon Allochrocebus preussi. The Park also home to other large and medium sized mammals including forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis, buffalo Syncerus caffer, red river hog Potamochoerus porcus, African civet Civettictis civetta, yellow-backed duiker Cephalophus silvicultor and several other duiker species, and rodents. However, CRNP is located in a region that has some of the highest human population densities in Africa (Oates 2004). The Park is surrounded by several communities that depend largely on farming, hunting, and extraction of NTFPs for their livelihood seriously threatening the survival of the wildlife of the Park. Hunting is one of the most important threats to wildlife today with drastic impact on animal populations and the livelihoods of millions of the rural poor who rely on wildlife as a major source of protein and income (Davies & Brow 2007; Bennett et al., 2002; Barnes 2002; Crookes et al. 2005; Bodmer et al., 1997; Rose et al., 2003). This is particularly so as bushmeat hunting is now predominantly for commercial purposes rather than for subsistence (Bennett & Robinson, 2000; Bennett, 2004). Hunting is a serious problem in the Cross River region. A survey of bushmeat markets in Cross River State by WCS in 2013 recorded over 3,000 carcasses belonging to at least 21 different animal s species traded as bushmeat including endangered species (WCS 2013). Proximity of communities to wildlife habitats is recognized as a factor influencing hunting pressure (Cordeiro et al., 2007), and is an important factor in Okwangwo which is surrounded by numerous communities in addition to three enclave communities (Ezebilo & Mattsson, 2010). This proximity often places protected areas under increased pressure from resource exploitation including bushmeat and other NTFPs. Under pressure from the communities, the Nigeria National Park Service recently granted permission to forest communities in and around the Okwangwo Division of CRNP (Okwangwo) for collection of NTFPs in the Park. Under the new policy collectors also have permission to construct bush sheds used as bases for the collection of NTFPs. Given current poor levels of protection of the Park, this new policy on NTFPs collection and construction camps has raised serious concerns about the potential impact on biodiversity due to hunting that could take place in the Park in the guise of NTFP collection if rules and regulations regarding NTFPs collection are not strictly and effectively enforced. These concerns arise from field observations which suggest a positive relationship between bush sheds, hunting and snaring in the Park. In this study, we used geo-referenced data 279
on human activities and wildlife presence collected with CyberTracker and Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) from 2011 to 2017 to examined the relationship between bush sheds, wire snare and wildlife distribution in Okwangwo. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study area The Cross River National Park (CRNP) is made up of two divisions: Okwangwo and Oban and it was established in 1991 along with six other National Parks that are managed by the Nigeria National Park Service (NNPS). This study focused on the Okwangwo Division of CRNP. Okwangwo is contiguous with Takamanda National Park in the Republic of Cameroon. Okwangwo is located ). between latitudes 6 o 17 N and 6.28 o 33 N and longitudes 9 o 14 E and 9.23 o 33 E (Figure 1). It covers an area of about 640 km 2 ranges in altitude from 150 m to about 1,700m above sea level. The park is biodiversity hotspot that hosts many threatened primate species, including the Cross River Gorilla Gorilla gorilla diehli, Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes ellioti, and other species of conservation importance (Oates, 1999, Morgan et al., 2011). In addition to three enclaved villages (Okwangwo, Okwa I, and Okwa II), Okwangwo Division is surrounded by several local communities that depend largely on farming, hunters gathering of forest products for their survival (Ite & Adams, 2000; Ezebilo & Mattsson, 2010; Macdonald et al., 2011 Figure 1. Map of the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park Field data collection Field data on bush sheds, wire snares (traps) and wildlife presence were collected using Cybertracker and SMART which allows GPS coordinates to be recorded automatically for every observation. Data collection was carried out from 2011 to 2016 during patrols by CRNP rangers with support from WCS. A total of 202 patrols were completed in Okwangwo in 280 1,509 patrol days, covering a total distance of 10,110 kilometers. All the traps bush sheds encountered were destroyed. Data analysis GPS coordinates of traps and bush sheds (386 bush sheds and 3,401 traps) were exported to ArcGIS 10.3 as shape files. The traps were overlaid on the camps.
The Point Distance Analysis tool in ArcGIS was used to determine the number of traps within 500m radius of each of the 386 bush sheds (Figure 2). A 500m distance was considered as a reasonable radius around camp where a hunter would set traps given the rugged terrain of the study area. As control, 386 truly random points were generated within Okwangwo. To account for possible patrol bias (i.e., tendency for the patrol rangers to focus patrols in areas around camp, thereby finding. more traps), further analysis was conducted to determine the distance from each trap to the nearest camp using tool Near in ArcGIS 10.3. A histogram of traps with distance from camps was generated (i.e., density of traps per area). Also, within the same distance interval, analysis of density of animals signs (those known to be trapped) was computed to assess if there was a measurable effect of the camps on these signs Figure 2: Density traps within 500m radius of bush sheds in Okwangwo. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Bush sheds versus traps point distance analysis Point Distance Analysis showed that out of the 386 camps recorded, 285 (74%) had traps within 500m radius (Table 1). To further validate this outcome, 386 camps were randomly generated and subjected to the same Point Distance Analysis with the 3,401 traps. Only 81 (21%) of the random camps had traps within 500m radius (Table 2). Correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation between bush sheds and traps (R 2 = 0.85; Figure 3). This result has implication for biodiversity conservation in the Park with respect to the approval for the construction of bush sheds for the collection of bush mango and other NTFPs by the Park authority. It raises concern that bush sheds constructed supposedly for bush mango collection, as 281 permitted by the Park, could in fact be used as bases for trapping. Trends in density of bush sheds in relation to density of traps The density of density of traps decreased with decreasing density of bush sheds over the period of this study (Figure 4). This result supports the spatial relationship above. The result also highlights the effectiveness of the anti-poaching patrols implemented in Okwangwo. A major focus of these anti-poaching patrols is removing wire snares and destroying hunting and other illegal camps encountered. Over time the encounter rate of traps decreased as the encounter rate of bush sheds decreased (Figure 4).
Figure 3: Spatial relationship between traps and camps in the study area. Figure 4: Trends in density of bush sheds and density of traps Okwangwo from 2011 to 2016. 0.00016 0.00014 0.00012 Density of animal signs (those being trapped) 0.0001 0.00008 0.00006 0.00004 0.00002 0 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Figure 5: Number of traps with distance from camps 0.00007-0.00002 Distance (m) Figure 6: Density of animal signs with distance from bush sheds Density 0.00006 0.00005 0.00004 0.00003 0.00002 0.00001 Porcopine Duiker Bush pig-red river hog Table 1: Percentage of bush sheds with traps within 500m radius. Count Percentage Number of bush 285 74% sheds with traps within 500m radius Number of bush 101 26% sheds without traps within 500m radius Total 386 100% 0 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Distance (m) Figure 7: Density of signs of the most commonly hunted species in Okwangwo with distance from bush sheds Table 2: Percentage of randomly generated points (control) with traps within 500m radius. Count Percentage Number of bush sheds with traps within 500m radius 81 21% Number of bush sheds without traps within 500m radius 305 79% Total 386 100% 282 Spatial distribution of traps and animal signs in relation to bush sheds Density of traps was highest close to bush sheds and decreased with increasing distance away from bush sheds. Over 80% of traps were located within 1 km of bush sheds and over 95% within 2 km of bush sheds (Figure 5). Results also showed a positive relationship between the distribution of bush sheds and density of signs of animals commonly hunted for bushmeat in the area, indicating that wildlife abundance is an important factor affecting location of bush sheds in Okwangwo.
Density of animal signs was highest within 500 of bush sheds (Figures 6 & 7). This suggests that as hunting pressure increases and wildlife abundance decreases in the relatively more accessible areas of the Park, hunters may now be targeting previously inaccessible areas which hitherto provided refuge for wildlife. CONCLUSION The results of this study show that there is indeed a positive relationship between bush sheds and traps in Okwangwo. More traps were found closer to bush sheds than further away, and the number of traps decreased over time as the number of bush sheds decreased. This result implies that if the rules and regulations guiding construction and use of bush sheds for collection of NTFPs in the Park are not strictly enforced, the new Park policy allowing collection of NTFPs and the construction of bush sheds in the Park could potentially impact negatively on biodiversity conservation in the Park. Results of this study also show a positive relationship between the distribution of bush sheds and density of signs of animals commonly hunted for bushmeat in the area. This implies that wildlife abundance influences the location of bush sheds in Okwangwo, suggesting that hunters are deliberately locating their camps in areas where wildlife is relatively more abundant. This is supported by the positive relationship between bush sheds and traps and raises questions about how the new Park policy on collection of NTFPs and construction of bush sheds in the Park might impact biodiversity conservation. Support from local communities is critical to the successful management of protected areas for biodiversity conservation. Relations between the communities within and around Okwangwo and the Park management have often been stained due to disagreement over access to and use of resources within the Park. Communities within and around Okwangwo have for many years agitated for access to the Park for collection of NTFPs, especially bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis). Under pressure from the communities, the Nigeria National Park Service recently granted permission to forest communities in and around the Okwangwo Division of CRNP (Okwangwo) for collection of NTFPs in the Park. Permission was also granted for construction of bush sheds used as bases for the collection of NTFPs. This new policy could help improve relations between the Park and communities and ensure much needed local support for conservation. However, it also gives cause for concern given the current poor levels of protection of the Park. Increased hunting that could take place in the Park if rules and regulations under the new policy are not strictly enforced could negatively impact biodiversity conservation. These concerns arise from previous field observations which suggested that bush sheds apparently meant for NTFPs collection provided bases for trapping and hunting activities in the Park. These field observations are supported by the results of this 283 study, highlighting the potential negative impact that the approval for collection of NTFPs and construction of bush sheds in Okwangwo could have on the biodiversity of the Park. RECOMMENDATIONS The rules and regulations under the new policy including registration of collectors, construction of temporary, not permanent bush sheds, limited number of collectors, not trapping during collection, and destruction of bush sheds after the collection season to prevent use by hunters etc., should be strictly enforced to avoid any negative impact on biodiversity conservation. Protection effort should be stepped. 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