CONSERVATION, LIVELIHOODS AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF ECOTOURISM IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

This study evaluates the environmental and socioeconomic contributions of ecotourism to sustainable development in Cross River State, Nigeria, with particular attention to Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River National Park and associated host communities. The study adopted a mixed-method design anchored on structured questionnaire data, key informant insights and secondary sources. A total of 150 tourists, residents and tourism stakeholders were selected through simple random and purposive sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, Pearson correlation and linear regression. Findings indicate that ecotourism contributes to habitat protection, biodiversity conservation, environmental awareness, employment generation, income diversification, infrastructure improvement and cultural preservation. Environmental impact was positively associated with socioeconomic impact (r = .682, p < .001), and regression analysis showed that environmental impact significantly predicted socioeconomic outcomes (R² = .465, F = 67.45, p < .001). The study contributes empirical evidence from a Nigerian rainforest destination and concludes that ecotourism can support sustainable development when conservation governance, community participation, benefit-sharing, infrastructure and destination monitoring are strengthened.