COMMUNITY CONSERVATION COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research work investigated the community conservation communication strategies and environmental protection in central senatorial district of Cross River State, Nigeria. Five research questions were formulated to guide the study and further converted to five hypotheses. The population of the study comprised one million two hundred and sixty-one thousand rural dwellers. Survey research design was utilized in the study. Stratified random sampling technique was used in the 38 communities and the 400 respondents used for the study. 70 items rating scale questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The reliability estimates of the instrument was 0.74 and it was established using Cronbach Alpha Reliability method. The statistical tool for data analysis was simple linear regression at 0.05 level of significant. The result of data analysis revealed that there was a significant influence of traditional media, village mass media, village meetings, folk media community brainstorming on environmental protection. Based on the result of the study, it was recommended that vigorous campaigns or community education about unhealthy agricultural practices and community communication media, should be carried out to discourage high level of deforestation, unsustainable practices of environment and to increase awareness about environmental issues, which will enhance the campaign of sustainable development by protecting and preservation of sensitive ecosystems