Wetland Conservation and Protection; Implications for Sustainable Flood Disaster Management in a Critical Urban Fringe Area of Port Harcourt

Umeuduji JE, Chuku C* and Chukwu Okeah GO

Received: March 19, 2018;   Published: March 27, 2018

DOI: 10.32474/AOICS.2018.02.000136

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Abstract

The study investigated the perception of indigenous people to wetland conservation and protection in Rumuagholu community in Obio/Akpor L.G.A of Rivers State. Experimental and survey research design were adopted in the study. Three hundred and sixty two respondents were randomly selected as the sample size for the study. Data for the study were collected using questionnaire while field measurements were obtained through satellite imagery as to ascertain the extent of wetlands in the community before and presently. Tables were used in the presentation of the result of the study. The study revealed that the people in the area do not practice wetland conservation and protection, Wetland distribution in Rumuagholu community has both spatial and temporal variation. It also revealed that wetland within the period of the study lost 10.64% its original state moving from 11km2 to 6km2 and that Loss of biodiversity in the Rumuagholu Community is a major effect of wetland loss. The study recommended the need to encourage effective urban planning mechanism that will help curtail the excessive use of wetlands, and that Government should as a matter of urgency buy up the remaining wetlands to forestall its conversion to other uses because of its role in flood management and water provision as well as eco tourism.

Keywords: Wetland; Conservation; Protection; Flood; Disaster; Management

Abstract| Introduction| Materials and Methods| Result and Discussion| Distribution of Wetland in Rumuagholu in 1986| Distribution of Wetland in Rumuagholu in 2016| Wetland Changes and Loss in Rumuagholu from 1986 to 2016| Conclusion and Recommendations| References|