– Ayuk, Godwin Omah & Kujoh, Jude Ubuh
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of community members’ personal variables and resource conservation practices in tropical rainforest in Ikom Education Zone of Cross River State. Community members’ personal variables were sub-divided into two – gender and age. A survey design was adopted for the study. Study’s population was made up of all rural dwellers in the study area. Sample was drawn using purposive sampling procedure with a sample of 555 respondents drawn for the study. A 20-item questionnaire tagged “Community Members’ Personal Variables and Resource Conservation Practices in Tropical Rainforest Questionnaire” (CMPVRCPTRQ) was utilized to collect data. Cronbach Alpha was used to estimate the reliability of the instrument. The two hypotheses formulated for the study were analysed using independent t-test and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and tested at .05 level of significance. The findings revealed that gender and age had a significant influence on resource conservation practices in tropical rainforest. Recommendations included that; awareness should be created amongst locals in proximity of tropical rainforests on the uniqueness of the forest’s services towards each of the environment and mankind.