RAISING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH ECOTOURISM AND MASS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN AKAMKPA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study is on raising environmental conservation consciousness through ecotourism and mass awareness campaign in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Two research questions and correspondent hypotheses were formulated for data analysis. Multi stage procedure involving purposive and accidental sampling techniques was adopted to select a total of three hundred and thirty-one (331) adult inhabitants (males and female) of all socio-economic status in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria were used for the study. Environmental Consciousness through Ecotourism and Mass Awareness questionnaire (ECETMAQ) was used for data collection. The data was analysed with Simple linear regression analysis. The results revealed a significant relationship between ecotourism and mass awareness campaign and raising environmental conservation consciousness in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Based on the findings and conclusion, it was recommended that Ecotourism should be highly encouraged and monitoring of tourism impact and setting limits based on conservation criteria are considered essential and there is a need to step up campaigns on biodiversity conservation in Nigeria and promote visits to natural sites.