Assessing awareness amongst critical stakeholders on the CITES implementation in Nigeria

Abstract

Trabajo Fin de Máster Propio. Directora/¨Tutora: Dra. Margarita África Clemente Muñoz. Nigeria signed and ratified Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1974 and 1975 respectively with this, Nigeria is obligated to the responsibilities of implementing all relevant texts of the Convention in Nigeria. Therefore assessing the level of awareness in the wildlife management and CITES implementation in Nigeria is a key factor to determine if CITES can be effectively or efficiently implemented in Nigeria. This study provides the basic assessment on the level of awareness in CITES management against the critical stakeholders which are amongst others; Government Agencies; Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs); Customs Service; International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL); Shippers’ Council; Nigeria Port Authority (NPA); Airlines; Postal Services; Academia; Botanical Gardens; Pharmaceutical Companies; Hunters; Politicians, Zoological Gardens and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The level of CITES awareness was determined using the questionnaire to the Critical Stakeholders, with person-to-person contact as well as workshop aimed at creating awareness. 200 questionnaires in all were sent out to the critical stakeholders. The data collected were analysed statistically. Raising awareness on CITES implementation in Nigeria should be the first step to mainstream wildlife management into the different sectors of government and NGOs. Therefore conserved effort on creation of awareness amongst critical stakeholders are very necessary to gain more support in the management of wildlife and CITES implementation in Nigeria, long term planning, integration of CITES/wildlife education into schools curricula at all levels of education, encouraging participation of all relevant stakeholders and change of attitudes and behaviour in the conservation of wildlife in Nigeria will definitely enhance awareness creation in Nigeria. This study therefore assessed the awareness and perception of stakeholders towards conservation of species with the aim of making recommendations on the need to conserve species to prevent extinction. The findings revealed that the level of awareness amongst Critical Stakeholders (CSH) is suboptimal. Gaps were identified which call for urgent attention.