Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (WNAD)

Managing Institute:
Department For International Development (WNAD)

Contractor:
Natural Resources Institute (NRI)

Project Code: 048-502-001	Start Date: 01/11/1988	End Date: 31/07/1989
Commitment: £141,801	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - TC

Project Objectives:
It is the intention of the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a national park on some 2800 km squared of primary rainforest in the Cross River State. This proposal could potentially affect the living standards of the inhabitants of the villages that surround the proposed Park. If this were to be the case the future integrity of the Park would be under serious threat. Thus, with the preservation of the park area as the major objective, a team from NRI was invited to carry out a soil survey and land evaluation of an area some 2000 km squared surrounding the Park (the Support zone). This survey aimed to draw up costed proposals for agricultural development designed to increase the income potential of the support zone and thus reduce the pressure of the human population on the Park itself. The dominant parent materials in the project area are ancient metamorphic rocks of the basement complex. They consist largely of coarse grained, acidic gneisses. The soils derived from these rocks are inherently nutrient deficient, acidic, gravelly, of low clay content and are characterised by low cation exchange capacity (CEC) and low base status. Conservation of organic matter levels is of great importance in maintaining soil fertility, both in terms of nutrient supply and the retention of nutrients within the root zone. Four land units have been described, lowland plains (Land unit 1), dissected plains (LU2), dissected foothills (LU3) and mountains (LU4), which make up 46, 20, 18 and 16 percent respectively of the study area respectively.