An Appraisal of Environmental Interpretive Policies and Strategies of Nigeria National Parks

Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 12(1):2009 AN APPRAISAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETIVE POLICIES AND STRATEGIES OF NIGERIA NATIONAL PARKS

AA Ogunjinmi1*, LO Ojo2, SA Onadeko3 and O Oguntoke2 1Department of Wildlife and Environmental Resources Management, College of Agriculture, Osun State Uni- versity, P.M.B. 4014, Ejigbo, Osun State, Nigeria 2Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria 3Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Accepted: 15th May 2009 ABSTRACT

This research was carried out to appraise the environmental interpretive policies and strategies of Nige- ria National Parks. Four National Parks-Chad Basin National Parks (CBNP), Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), Okomu National Park (OKNP) and Yankari National Park (YNP, now Yankari Game Reserve) representing the major ecological zones of Nigeria were selected for the study. Data were col- lected from the management of the Parks through interview guide adapted from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Parks, Victoria, Australia; these were analysed by using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that the business structure for these parks is public service model and that they have legislated responsibility for providing information and education and considered interpretation to be of central importance to their operations; although they have varying levels of importance attached to various interpretation/interpretive functions. Interpretive policies and strategies adopted by the parks include management policy, education policy and strategy, management plans, action plans, guidelines and manuals. Key audiences considered for interpretive services were visitors from schools, first–time visitors, park neighbours, tertiary institutions, overseas visitors and special interest groups. The study concluded that greater emphasis is needed in developing appropriate interpretive plans and programs that can shape visitors’/ and park neighbours attitude towards National Parks’ policies and activities as well as using interpretive services to project the tourism potentials of Nigeria to the outside world in order to optimize the gains from global tourism market and to enhance the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of eradicating extreme poverty (through increased economic benefits of local communities from ecotourism ) and ensuring environmental sustainability in the country.

Key words: Environmental Interpretive Services, Interpretation, National Parks, Nigeria, Policies INTRODUCTION have increased in numbers, and their grazing pressures have increased in severity. As human activi- All over the world, particularly in developing and ties exert pressures on the global environment, bio- third world countries, human dimension aspect of logical diversity declines as habitats are trans- natural resources management has become a seri- formed and the populations of some species dwin- ous cause of concern. According to Whitmore and dle to the point of extinction in some cases Sayer (1992), human impact on the global environ- (Whitmore and Sayer 1992). More and more wild ment has increased greatly in recent centuries, and animals and plants species, all over the world are especially during the last 50 years. Westing et al. being identified as threatened or endangered (2001), posited that humans ever than before are (Onadeko and Meduna 1984). Biodiversity is now utilizing all of the world’s major renewable natural vanishing at an unprecedented rate (Wilson, 1988; resources at the rate exceeding their natural abilities Reid and Miller 1989). Saving our beleaguered en- to renew themselves while introducing pollutants vironment is the most pressing problem facing man into the environment at levels increasingly beyond (Nisbet 1991 cited in Peters 1995). the point at which they can dissipate or decompose Consequent upon the spate of unsustainable into insignificance. The report added that humans utilization and wanton destruction of biodiversity, more than ever before are encroaching drastically protected areas are being established under the upon what remains or relatively wild nature guidance of International Union of Conservation of throughout the world. Forests have been exploited Nature (IUCN) to conserve biodiversity in many and cleared, while croplands have increased in ex- countries of the world. The establishment of pro- tent and uses have intensified. Domestic livestock tected areas has become a global business in recent *Corresponding author

8 AA OGUNJINMI ET AL : APPRAISAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETIVE POLICIES decades (Abramovitz 1991) and the types of pro- relations and communications’ activities as well as tected areas have become much more sophisticated. their management in Nigeria National Parks with National Parks remain the most common type of the view of determining whether they conform to protected area, especially in developing countries. what obtains in other countries where the concept Ensuring public support for the natural resource of national parks have long been established. management program of the National Park Service is critical to the long-term preservation of parks. Without the good-will and support of host commu- METHODOLOGY nities resource managers are sure to face difficulties and misunderstanding in their efforts to resolve the The study was carried out in Kainji Lake National many issues facing parks today. To gain support, Park (KLNP), Yankari National Park (YNP, now the National Park Service is engaged in various Yankari Game Reserve), Chad Basin National Park activities that encourage visitors and park (CBNP) and Okomu National Park (OKNP). These neighbours to learn about the role of park manage- were selected to represent the major ecological ment and eco-development. They share the com- zones where National Parks are located: Okomu mon approach of interpreting scientific information National Park (Rainforest), Chad Basin National in non-technical and engaging ways that stimulate Park (Sudan/Sahel savanna), Yankari National Park consideration of the many challenges inherent in (Sudan savanna) and Kainji Lake National Park natural resource management (NPS 1998). One of (Northern Guinea savanna) (Table 1 and Fig. 1). these activities is interpretation. Interpretation ac- Data were obtained by the use of interview guide cording to Tilden (1977) is an educational activity, adapted from Department of Natural Resources and which aims to reveal meaning and relationships Environment (1999). The interview guide com- through the use of original objects by first-hand prises business structure of the National Parks, re- experience and by illustrative media rather than quirements, commitment, policies and planning for communicate factual information. The concept of interpretive services. Ranking of interpretation interpretation is illustrated by the saying, “through functions was through preference ranking with the interpretation understanding, through understanding most important being first (1st) and the least impor- appreciation, through appreciation protection tant being sixth (6th). Data obtained were analysed (Tilden 1977). The benefits of resource interpreta- using descriptive statistics. tion are many: a better informed public and therefore empowered constituency of park supporters, a closer bond between parks and neighbours, and a RESULTS public vested in the rational application of science in the care of park natural resources. It has a direct The study revealed that the business structure for and indirect contribution to sustainable develop- all the parks studied is public service model (i.e. a ment (Wolfgang 2002). First, through promotion of government agency is responsible both for policy/ sustainable resource use, resource management and strategy direction and service delivery (Table 2). social development in the host region (on-site con- The study further showed that the selected National tribution), and the other through contributing to Parks have legislated responsibility for providing environmental awareness and changes of behaviour information/education; and they also considered in visitors (off-site contribution). interpretation to be of central importance to their Prior to 1979 and with the emergence of the operations i.e. one of their four or five main func- Kainji Lake National Park as the first national park tions. However, there is no reference to interpreta- in Nigeria, national parks as a concept in biodiver- tion in their mission/vision statements. They clearly sity management was alien, though the first game identified the functions of interpretation considered reserve-Yankari Game Reserve was long estab- to be of central importance as increasing visitors’ lished since 1935. This revolution has therefore enjoyment, increasing visitors’ awareness and un- largely been affected by poorly informed publics derstanding, increasing community support, chang- (local communities, visitors, politicians, policy makers and other stakeholders). This low level of Table 1: Location, Land Area and the Ecotypes of the information is not only about the existing resources selected National Parks in the national parks but also impending tragedies Name Location Land Latitude/ Ecological zone (State) area Longitude likely to be inflicted on the human component of (km2) the ecosystem if the spate of unsustainable utiliza- CBNP Borno and 2245 120 251N/140 Sudan/Sahel Sa- tion of the resources continues. Engendering public Yobe 151E vanna KLNP Niger and 5,380 100 051N/40 061 E Northern Guinea support for conservation goals and activities of Ni- Kwara Savanna geria National Parks is of critical issue. The present ONP Edo 181 60 101N/50 301E Rainforest study was carried out to examine the institutional YNP Bauchi 2244 90 501N/100 281 E Sudan Savanna commitments to interpretive services as a public

Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 12(1):2009 9 Table 2: Business structure of and importance of in- In the ranking of interpretation functions by the terpretation to Chad Basin, Kainji Lake, Okomu and National Parks (Table 3), the study showed that Yankari National Parks Chad Basin National Park (CBNP) and Kainji Lake Variable CBNP KLNP ONP YNP National Park (KLNP) ranked interpretation as a means of increasing visitors’ enjoyment third (3rd) Business Structure while Okomu National Park (OKNP) and Yankari Pubic Service Model + + + + National Park (YNP) ranked it second (2nd) and th Have legislated responsibility for pro- fourth (4 ) respectively. Also Chad Basin National viding information/education + + + + Park (CBNP), Okomu National Park (OKNP) and Mission /Vision statement include - - - - reference to interpretation Yankari National Park (YNP) ranked interpretation Regard Interpretation to be of central + + + + as a means of increasing visitors’ awareness and importance understanding first (1st) while Kainji Lake National Interpretation functions considered Park (KLNP) ranked it second (2nd) . Interpretation to be of central importance th Increasing visitors’ enjoyment + + + + as a management tool was ranked fourth (4 ) by Increasing visitors’ awareness/ + + + + Chad Basin National Park (CBNP) and Kainji Lake understanding National Park (KLNP) whereas Okomu National As a management tool + + + + Park (OKNP) and Yankari National Park (YNP) rd Increasing community support + + + + ranked it third (3 ). Chad Basin National Park (CBNP) and Yankari National Park (YNP) ranked To change visitors’ behavior + + + - interpretation as a medium of increasing commu- For commercial reasons - + - - nity support second (2nd) while Kainji Lake Na- + Applicable; - Not Applicable tional Park (KLNP) and Okomu National Park (OKNP) ranked it first (1st) and fourth (4th) respec- + Applicable; - Not Applicable tively. All the parks except Yankari National Park (YNP) ranked interpretation as a means of changing of visitors’ behaviour, management tool as well th as commercial purposes. The result of the business ing visitors’ behaviour fifth (5 ), Yankari National structure of the selected parks is not in conformity Park (YNP) did not rank it at all. Also, the selected parks ranked interpretation for commercial reasons with the findings of Department of Natural Re- th sources and Environment (1999) in Australia and sixth (6 ) except Yankari National Park (YNP) that New Zealand which showed that only one-third of did not rank it. conservation agencies are now operating within a The various ranking of interpretive services public service model; although historically they showed the level of importance each of these Na- operated under the public service model. Also, leg- tional Parks attached to various interpretation func- islated responsibility of the parks as regards to in- tions. In the ranking of interpretation functions by terpretation and interpretive services agree with the parks, the function ranked least was interpretation for changing behaviours (5th) and for commer- Beckmann (1992) and Cheatley (1989) that infor- th mation/education functions are enshrined in the cial purposes (6 ); however, Wolfgang (2002) enabling legislation of most parks and protected stated behavioural changes as one of the objectives areas in New Zealand, Australia and internationally. Their mission/vision statements with no refer- Table 4: Commitment and understanding of National ence to interpretation are also not in conformity Parks’ staff on interpretation goals and objectives with most parks and protected areas internationally Variable CBNP KLNP ONP YNP Communication of interpretation whose many mission statements and corporate commitment plans identify interpretation as a key activity Formally through written document + + + + (Canadian Heritage 1994; Royal Botanical Gardens Word of mouth + + + + Melbourne 1997; Sutherland 1996). Part of policy manual - + + - Understanding of Interpretation Table 3: Ranking of interpretation functions accord- goals and objectives by Park Staff ing to their levels of importance to the parks There is clear understanding among Interpretation Functions CBNP KLNP ONP YNP staff of the parks on interpretation + + + + Rank Rank Rank Rank goals and objectives Increasing visitors’ enjoyment 3rd 3rd 2nd 4th Levels of understanding Increasing visitors’ awareness/ 1st 2nd 1st 1st Senior staff - - + - understanding As a management tool 4th 4th 3rd 3rd Middle staff - - + - nd st th nd Increasing community support 2 1 4 2 Interpreters/educators - - + - To change visitors’ behaviour 5th 5th 5th No rank For commercial reasons 6th 6th 6th No rank Site staff - - + - 1St = Most important 6th =Least important + Applicable; - Not Applicable

10 AA OGUNJINMI ET AL : APPRAISAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETIVE POLICIES Table 5: Interpretive policies and strategies used by Table 6: Environmental interpretive services plan- the Parks ning by the parks Variable CBNP KLNP OKNP YNP Variable CBNP KLNP ONP YNP Internal policies/strategies/ Designed and planned interpretation activi- documents used in planning and ties to address parks goals/objectives - + + - managing interpretation services Identify key audience + + + - Management policy + + + + Have documented interpretation strategy/ + - - - Communication policy/strategy + + + - Plans Prepare project/program plans + - + + Education policy/strategy - + + + Use visitor/market research Management Plan + + + + Not at all - + - + Action plans + + + - Annually + - + - Guidelines/manual - + + - Define for interpretation Services Frequency of reviewing interpretation policy/strategy /objective by Goals + + + + senior management group Objectives + + + - At least annually - - - - Key results - - + - Every 2 years - - + - Performance indicators - - + - Officer from senior management Outcomes - - + - group responsible + + + + Key audience to target for interpretation policy/standards First time visitors + - + + + Applicable; - Not Applicable Non visitors - + + + People who live near the park + + + + Experts + + + + of interpretation. Also, interpretation is constantly Schools + + + + being used for commercial reasons especially to Tertiary institutions + + + + attract visitors to National Parks. Ethnic groups - + - - Table 4 shows the commitment and under- Overseas visitors + + + - Special Interest groups + + + - standing of interpretation goals and objectives by Identify Key Messages for interpretation + + + + the staff of the selected National Parks. All the se- services lected parks communicate interpretation commit- Messages targeted to specific audience + + + + ment formally through written document and word + Applicable; - Not Applicable of mouth. Two of them (Kainji Lake National Park and Okomu National Park) communicate it through Okomu National Park reviews interpretation pol- the policy manual. Also, in all the National Parks, icy, strategy and objective; this is done by senior there is clear understanding of interpretation goals managers every 2 years while the remaining three and objectives; however there is variation in the National Parks (Chad Basin National Park, Kainji staff levels of understanding across the parks. Only Lake National Park and Yankari National Park) do Okomu National Park reported clear understanding not review interpretation policy. Furthermore, all among senior level staff, middle level staff, inter- the parks reported that officer from senior manage- preters/educators and site staff. Furthermore, the ment group is responsible for interpretation policy commitment and understanding of interpretation and standards. The selected National Parks adopt goals and objectives by Nigeria National Parks’ various interpretive policies and strategies, the re- staff also agree with the findings by Department of sult is in tandem with numerous management agen- Natural Resources and Environment (1999) that cies in Australia and internationally, which are now most senior managers (78%) have a clear under- producing strategic documents focusing on inter- standing of interpretation benefits, these were pretation and visitor service (Brisbane City Council clearly understood by site managers (48%) and 1997; Environment Act 1998; McPherson 1995; planners. Turner 1993 and Winkworth et al. 1994). The study further revealed the various internal The study shows that Kainji Lake National policies, strategies and documents used in manag- Park and Okomu National Park designed and ing interpretive services by the selected parks planned interpretation activities to address parks’ (Table 5). All the selected parks use management goals and objectives while Chad Basin National policy and education policy/strategy while three Park and Yankari National Park did not. Also, three parks (Chad Basin National Park, Kainji Lake Na- of the parks (Chad Basin National Park, Kainji tional Park and Okomu National Park) use commu- Lake National Park and Okomu National Park) nication policy/strategy and action plans while two identify key audiences for their interpretive mes- of the parks (Kainji Lake National Park and Okomu sages or services while one park (Yankari National National Park use guidelines and manuals. How- Park) does not. Only Chad Basin has documented ever, Kainji Lake National Park, Okomu National interpretive strategies or plans; Chad Basin Na- Park and Yankari National Park use management tional Park and Okomu National Park used visitor plans for their interpretive policies and strategies and/or market research annually to project their while Chad Basin National Park did not. Only programs when planning interpretative services while Kainji Lake National Park and Yankari Na-

Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 12(1):2009 11

Figure 1: Map of Nigeria showing the selected National Parks for the study and other National Parks tional Park did not use visitor and/ or market re- selected Parks reported to identify key messages for search. All the parks reported to define goals for interpretive services and their messages were tar- interpretive services, however, Chad Basin Na- geted to specific audience (Table 6). These results tional Park, Kainji Lake National Park and Okomu agree with Australian and New Zealand Environ- National Park define objectives for interpretive ser- ment and Conservation Council Organizations and vices, Yankari National Park neither have goals nor Agencies which are increasingly using visitors’ objectives for interpretation; while only Okomu surveys and other instruments for learning about National Park defined key results, performance in- their audience, identify key messages for their indicators and outcomes for interpretive services. terpretation and target key messages to specific au- Also, Chad Basin National Park, Kainji Lake Na- diences (Department of Natural Resources and En- tional Park and Okomu National Park have put in vironment 1999; Cheatley 1994 and Stetski 1994a). place a formal process to decide which audience to target. They also identify key audiences for their interpretive messages or services. CONCLUSIONS All the parks considered visitors from schools as key audience to target; Chad Basin National The Nigeria National Park System considered to a Park, Kainji Lake National Park and Yankari Na- varying degrees environmental interpretation/ tional Park considered first time visitors as key au- interpretive services as core activities based on dience to target respectively. Parks’ neighbours various functions and benefits derivable from inter- (villagers) were considered as key audiences to tar- pretive activities and services in the management of get by Kainji Lake National Park, Okomu National the various parks. Also, to a certain level, interpre- Park and Yankari National Park while tertiary insti- tive services are planned to meet the parks’ goals tutions were considered as key audiences to target and objectives, however, only one of them defines by Chad Basin National Park, Kainji Lake National key results, performance indicators and outcomes Park, and Yankari National Park while overseas for interpretive services. These are missing links in visitors and special interest groups were considered evolving an adequate and appropriate planning for as key audiences to target Chad Basin National interpretive services and the fulfillment of interpre- Park, Kainji Lake National Park and Yankari Na- tive goals and objectives. Greater emphasis is tional Park. The study further revealed that all the needed in developing appropriate interpretive plans

12 AA OGUNJINMI ET AL : APPRAISAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETIVE POLICIES particularly documented interpretive plans/ NPS 1998 Resource Interpretation Natural Re- strategies and programs that can shape visitors’/ source Year in Review (1998) National Park and park neighbours attitude towards National Service 1998 Parks’ policies and activities as well as using inter- Onadeko SA and Meduna AJ 1984 Public Relations pretive services to project the tourism potentials of and Wildlife Management in Nigeria. In Okoro Nigeria to the outside world in order to optimize OO and Fuwape JA (eds.) Proceedings of the the gains from global tourism market and to en- 19th Annual Conference of the Forestry hance the achievement of Millennium Development Association of Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Goals (MDGs) of eradicating extreme poverty December 3 – 8, 1984. Pp. 195 – 197. (through increased economic benefits to local com- Peters SW 1995 Introduction to Environmental munities from ecotourism ) and ensuring environ- Education Nigeria Conservation Foundation, mental sustainability in the country. Pp. 1 – 6 Reid WV and Miller KR 1989 Keeping Options Alive: the scientific basis for conserving biodi- REFERENCES versity. World Resources Institute, New York. Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne 1997 Corporate Abramovitz JN1991 Investing in Biological Diver- Plan 1997–2002 Royal Botanic Gardens: Mel- sity. In U.S. Research and Conservation Efforts bourne. in Developing countries. World Resources In- Stetski W 1994a Future Trends in Interpretation, stitute, Washington, D. C. Interpscan, vol. 21, no.1 Pp29. Beckmann EA1992 Environmental Interpretation Sutherland L 1996 Interpretation and Visitor Ser- for Education and Management in Australian vices–An Evaluation of Policies and practices National Parks and other protected Areas. Un- in Australia’s Botanic Gardens, Unpublished published Doctoral Thesis. Master thesis. Brisbane City Council 1997 National Areas Com- Tilden F 1977 Interpreting Our Heritage (third edi- munication Strategy. Unpublished document. tion) Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Canadian Heritage 1994 Guiding Principles and Press. Operational Policies, Minister of Supply and Turner M 1993 The Big Wet Picture: A Public Services: Canada Education Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef Cheatley B 1989 Interpretation and Environmental World Heritage Area in (Eds) S Olsson and R Education for Marine Protected Areas: A Re- Saunders Open to Interpretation 1992 Confer- view of Current Approaches and a Strategy for ence papers of the Inaugural conference of the the Bunurong Marine Park, Victoria, Masters interpretation Australia Association, Interpreta- Thesis at Monash University. tion Australia Association: Australia. Cheatley B 1994 Managing the Visitor Experience: Westing AH, Warwick F and Renner M 2001 Envi- Knowing your Current and Potential visitors is ronmental Degradation as both Consequence the First Step' in (Eds) E Beckman and S Hull and Cause of Armed Conflict: Working Paper Interpretation Attached to Heritage, Papers Prepared for Nobel Laureate Forum Partici- presented at the Third Annual Conference of pants by PRECOM Sub-committee on environ- the Interpretation Australia Association 1994, mental deregulation, PRECOM. Interpretation Australia Association: Australia. Whitmore TC and JA Sayer 1992 Tropical Defores- Department of Natural Resources and Environment tation and Species Extinction. IUCN Forest 1999 Best Practice in Park Interpretation and Conservation Programme, Chapman and Hall, Education. A Report to the Australian and New London. Pp 49 Zealand Environment and Conservation Coun- Wilson EO (eds) 1988 Biodiversity. National Acad- cil Working Group on National Park and Pro- emy Press, Washington DC. tected Area Management Benchmarking and Winkworth K, James P and Freeman, P 1994 Inter- Best Practice Program Prepared by Earthlines pretive Strategy for Tasmania’s Parks Reserves Consortium, Victoria. and Historic Sites, Unpublished document. Environment Act 1998 Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Wolfgang AWS 2002 Methodical Approach: Envi- Interpretation Strategy, Unpublished document. ronmental Interpretation. FH Stralsund-Leisure McPherson K 1995 Rationalizing Visitor Services and Tourism Management. http://www.touris Programs in Ontario Parks, Interpscan, vol. 22, mus-museum.de no. 3, Pp. 2 – 3, 14 Nisbet EG 1991 Leaving Eden to Protect and Man- age the Earth, New York: Cambridge Univer- sity Press.