The Role Of Adequate Rainfall In The Development Of Environmental Resources And Enhancement Of Tourism Potential In Ugbo Town Of Enugu State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Tourism, Forests, Wildlife, Biodiversity, Environmental resourcesAbstract
The position of adequate rainfall in the development of environmental resources is a worthwhile research area in the concept of tourism enhancement and sustainable resource exploitation. The study became indispensable due to the significance of biodiversity, forests, wildlife and other environmental features in development of tourism industry in Nigeria. Photographs of crucial tourism potentials and analysis of rainfall pattern with charts were employed to ascertain the position and discuss the role of tourism potentials in the development of environmental resources in the area. It was observed that tourism potentials which exist in the area include landforms, wetlands, biodiversity, forests and wildlife. These are highly influenced by the condition of rainfall in the area. These tourism potentials were mostly conserved through groves and deity shrines. The paper maintain that the tourism potentials are capable of yielding huge sums of revenue yearly to the state government once developed into tourism centers. Encouragement of public and private partnership in the developing tourist sites everywhere in Nigeria was recommended among others.
References
Adinna, E.N. (2001). Environmental Hazard and Management. Enugu: Snaap Press, .
Anyadike R. N. C. (2009), Climate Change: Causes and Consequences, paper presented at Centre for Environmental Management and Control (CEMAC), University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (during public lecture).
Bhalme H. N. (1999). Agriculture, Food and Climate Report. World Climate Programme, Application and service. Geneva: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorological.
Cardinale B. J., Nelson K. and Palmer M. A. (2000), Linking species diversity to the functioning of ecosystems: on the importance of environmental context. Oikos, 91, 175-183.
Duffy, J. E. (2002). Biodiversity and ecosystem function: the consumer connection, Oikos, 99, 201-219
Fridley, J. D. (2001). The influence of species diversity on ecosystem productivity: how, where, why? Oikos, 93, 514-526.
Nwafor J. C. (2006). Environmental Impact Assessment, El 'Demak Publication.
Ogbuene, E. B. (2007). Relationship between Rainfall, Soil Temperature at Various Depth and Implication on Crops Yield. Unpublished M.Sc Dissertation, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.
Ogbuene E. B. (2010), Environmental Consequences of Rainfall Variability and Deforestation in Southeastern Nigeria. International Journal of Water and Soil Resources Research, 1 (1), 100-117.
Ojo, O. (1982). The Climate of West Africa. USA: Heinemann Press.
Okafor J.C. (1975). The Flora of the Millken Hill (Nigeria): A Species List with Notes on Floristic Composition. Enugu, Nigeria.
Okafor J.C. (1989). Evaluation of Tourism and Recreation: a view from Nigeria. 13th Common Wealth Forestry Conference, New Zealand.
Tilman, D. (1999). The ecological consequences of changes in biodiversity: A search for general principle. Ecology, 80, 1455-1474.
Wilson E. O. (1992). The Diversity of Life. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, U.S.A.
