Assessment Of the Impact of Gender and Income Level on Environmental Degradation in the Calabar Education Zone of Cross-River State, Nigeria 0 0

Abstract

Environmental degradation has become a major concern in developing nations, particularly in regions experiencing rapid urbanization, population growth, poor waste management practices and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. Gender plays a significant role in environmental management because men and women interact differently with environmental resources due to socio-cultural, economic and occupational factors. This study assessed the impact of gender and income level on environmental degradation in the Calabar Education zone of Cross River State Nigeria. The study was motivated to understand how demographic factors such as gender and income level influence attitudes, practices, and behaviors that contribute to environmental degradation within the study area. A survey research design was adopted for the study. A structured questionnaire titled “Gender and Environmental Degradation Assessment. Questionnaire (GEDAQ) was used for data collection. The sample was selected through stratified and simple random sampling techniques. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for data Collection. The result of the findings revealed that gender significantly influences environmental degradation through differences observed in waste disposal practices, resource utilization, participation in environmental conservation activities and environmental awareness practices between males and females. African society men are predominantly involved in activities such as logging, construction, sand mining and industrial operations which contributed more directly to environmental degradation, unlike female activities such as domestic waste disposal and fuelwood dependency indirectly contributed to environmental deterioration. The study found out that income level significantly affects environmental degradation as individuals with higher income levels demonstrated better environmental practices and greater access to environmentally friendly technologies, while lowe income groups were more likely to engage in activities that contribute to environmental degradation due to economic constraints. It recommended increased environmental education programs targeting both genders, the promotion of gender-inclusive environmental policies, and economic empowerment initiatives aimed at improving sustainable environmental practices among low-income households. The study further emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among government agencies, educational institutions, and community stakeholders nvironmental degradation in the Calabar Education zone.