CONFLICT, POWER AND MULTIPLE LAND USE ANALYSIS OF OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK Oladapo Olukoya Oduntan Ph.d Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management College of Environmental Resources Management Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Nigeria

Introduction National parks serve as cornerstone of conservation policies and provide multiple benefits for humankind Environmental Social Economic etc (Balmford & Whitten 2003; Stolton et al. 2006, Stolton et al. 2008).

Competing claims”: a variety of perspectives bringing about Conflicts Power: a variety of meanings can also identified ….‘negative’- some having control over others, the same as domination or something ‘positive’, as necessary for agency and productive action? ….something ‘held’ by actors (powerful and powerless) or something that pervades life, in all relationships and discourses? ….’zero-sum’ (always with winners and losers) or something fluid and accumulative?

The Problems Whilst these areas provide important multiple benefit at global, national and local levels; there is increasing concern about the conflict often involving National Park Resources and their neighboring Communities.

Picturing the Conflict Over-exploitation of Park’s resources by neighboring communities. Crop damages and other damages caused by Wildlife in neighboring communities. Feelings that costs are mostly incurred by the local people - Positively and Negatively

More people… mid range projections as carried out by the UN population division

Global resource use

Objectives To evaluate the multiple benefits characteristics of Old Oyo National Park to its Neighboring communities. To analyse conflict involved in the claims on resources by the various stakeholder. To analyse the powers of the stakeholders and the effect on resources management

Methodology Study Area Map of Old Oyo National Park indicating Surrounding Communities

SURVEY METHODS 2 Communities sampled out of 5 - based on conflict prevalence in the study areas - distribution and abundance of Wild animals

Data Collection Categories of respondents/Stakeholders Objective(s) focused Instrument(s) Used Sampling Procedure & Size Household heads (HHs) 1,2 and 3 Open-Ended Questionnaire & In-depth Interview All HHs () Snowballing (Non-probability) National Park Officials 2 and 3 Representatives Conservation Organization/NGO officials Government Agencies Officials

Data Analysis Objectives Focus Tool(s) Used 1 Multiple benefit rating Mantel (1965) 2 Conflict Analysis Competing Claims Analysis Matrix 3 Powers Analysis & Effect Picture Interpretation

Results

Evaluation of Multiple Benefits Derived from the Park by Villagers (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Grades 1 3 2 4 22 35 42 5 21 23 27 37 14 6 32 30 Sum of value2 10440 10923 9816 8803 7144 8083 9148 Benefits Interpretation – Firewood collection - Food - Medicinal value - Recreation - Timber - Bushmeat - Water Grades Interpretation 6 – Indispensable 5 – Very Important 4 – Important 3 – More Significant 2 – Significant 1 - Insignificant

Competing Claims Analysis Matrix   Stake holders What do they claim? What are the interests behind the claim? (what do they want to get out of it) Current benefits? Current costs? Villagers Wild Animal Damages Compensation None Food Insecurity / Poverty Conservation Organization / NGO Wildlife Population Decline / Habitat Destruction Conservation of Biodiversity International support Loss of Biodiversity OONP Management Intolerable Killing of Wild Animals by Locals Free range and access to land for Wildlife Weak Legislative Support Decline in Wild animal Population / Habitat destruction Government Officials Need for Food Security / Poverty Alleviation Local Support / Personal Interest Vote / Local Acceptance -

Stakeholders and their Power Analysis Wild animals Old Oyo National Park Buffer zones CO / NGOs Villagers Local Council Officials Park Officials Stakeholder Stakeholder’s Power Park Resources

Conclusion Land is the dominant benefit of the people in the study area Conflicting interest Park management and Local government council impedes strong policies that will protect wildlife in the study area. Powers / interest of the Local government councils opposes that of the Park guards / managers

Consideration Possible Solution Relocation??? - A lesson from the “De hoge veluwe” Compensation??? Sustained Reconciliation of Interest

Acknowledgement Abogoh Oluwaseun – Graduate student Adebowale Kareem – Graduate Student Cora van Oosten – CDI, Netherlands Nico Rozemeijer – CDI, Netherlands

Questions Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta