FOSTERING HOME-GROWN AND CULTURALLY-FILTERED APPROACHES TO GULLY EROSION CONTROL: A SPOTLIGHT ON ENEN ATAI ITAM COMMUNITY, AKWA IBOM STATE.
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Abstract
The causes and potential solutions to gully erosion are invariably bound up with human attitudes, beliefs, values, needs, expectation and behaviour. Sequel to this notion, the research work examined home-grown approaches culturally approved by Enen Atai Itam, a local community in Akwa Ibom State, in response to gully erosion problem. The study was grounded on the theory of Planned Behaviour. Ethnographic research design was adopted to explore contextual conditions relevant to the phenomenon under study. In-depth interview, observational techniques and focus group discussion were the data collection techniques employed to elicit responses from participants. Using purposive sampling technique, participants were selected for the study. Simple percentages were used to present socio-demographic information of participants. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the narratives from the participants in order to present their responses in perspective and provide answer to research questions. Findings of the study revealed that human-induced causes of gully erosion could be reversed by using cultural values to shift from the patterns of destruction. The study concludes that humans could move towards a sustainable society by using cultural strategies to encourage pro-environmental behaviour.
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