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Gendered Livelihood Outcomes of Protected-area Establishment in Nigeria: Evidence From Women in Cross River National Park Support-zone Communities, Akamkpa

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study examined the gendered livelihood outcomes of Cross River National Park in four Akamkpa support-zone communities, with particular attention to women’s access to compensatory mechanisms, forest-based activities and income security. A mixed-method field design combined questionnaire data from 360 returned instruments with participatory rural appraisal, interviews and community observation. Descriptive statistics were complemented with Fisher’s exact test and chi-square tests to correct sparse-cell and categorical comparisons. Access to park compensation was extremely limited: only 1.11% of respondents reported any benefit, and no female respondent accessed credit, training, crop-loss compensation or employment. Women’s activities were mainly constrained rather than transformed, while average female monthly income declined from ₦34,100 to ₦24,583.00. Male income fell more sharply following restrictions on timber, hunting and related activities. Conservation governance must move beyond protection-centred exclusion towards gender-responsive livelihood restoration, accountable compensation and community forest rights.

Source: Journal of Environmental Sciences and Built Environment Research

DOI: 10.83374/jesber.vol1no1.8

Authors: Ekpe, Esienita, Oba, Demitrus

Institution: University of Calabar

Language: English

Topic: Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Reduced inequalities, No poverty, Life on land, Decent work and economic growth, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7166171274

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