Global Thinking and Local Action: Agriculture, Tropical Forest Loss and Conservation in Southeast Nigeria

This text focuses on the role of small farmers in tropical moist forest (TMF) loss, and the impact of forest conservation on farmers in south east Nigeria. The conservation efforts in the sub-regions of west Africa are built on inadequate understanding of the specific processes of degradation or the way human populations and economy, society and natural systems in the TMF environments interact. This book provides a detailed account of the tensions between small farmers, agriculture and tropical forest conservation in south east Nigeria. It uses the Okwanwgo Division of the Cross River National Park as a case study to explore the cost of TMF loss at the household level and to examine the conflicts over access due to competing interests. The study links local level agricultural practices and household decision making with the wider political economy to explain the observed patterns of loss in the Division.