ECOSPIRITUALITY, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: THE ROLE OF FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN JOS METROPOLIS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The increasing degradation of natural resources in Nigeria has generated growing concern about the effectiveness of conventional environmental management approaches and the need for complementary social and ethical mechanisms for promoting sustainability. Faith-based organizations (FBOs) represent influential social institutions whose teachings, leadership structures and community networks can potentially promote environmental stewardship. This study examined the relationship between ecospirituality, natural resource conservation and environmental sustainability among faith-based organizations in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 400 respondents selected from churches, mosques and faith-based community organizations within Jos Metropolis. Of the 400 questionnaires distributed, 376 were valid, representing a 94.0% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed a high level of ecospiritual orientation among respondents (mean = 3.87, SD = 0.64), while natural-resource conservation practices recorded a moderate-to-high level (mean = 3.54, SD = 0.71). Environmental sustainability practices recorded a mean of 3.49 (SD = 0.68). Ecospirituality was positively and significantly correlated with natural-resource conservation (r = .62, p < .001) and environmental sustainability (r = .66, p < .001). Multiple regression showed that ecospiritual values, environmental education, FBO environmental programmes, leadership commitment and community participation jointly explained 68.3% of the variance in environmental sustainability practices (R² = .683, p < .001). Ecospirituality emerged as a significant predictor (β = .244, p < .001), as did environmental education (β = .290, p < .001), FBO environmental programmes (β = .198, p < .001), leadership commitment (β = .204, p < .001), and community participation (β = .181, p < .001). The study concludes that ecospirituality can provide an important ethical foundation for conservation when translated into practical institutional and community action. It recommends the systematic integration of environmental stewardship into religious education, interfaith environmental programmes, institutional sustainability policies and partnerships with environmental agencies