Evaluating Biodiversity Conservation Efforts in Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi State

Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State is Nigeria's largest and most visited wildlife protected area, yet it faces persistent threats from poaching, illegal farming encroachment, fire damage, and inadequate management resources that undermine its biodiversity conservation effectiveness within the North East geopolitical zone. This study evaluates the conservation outcomes and management effectiveness of Yankari Game Reserve using a combination of remote sensing analysis, wildlife survey data, and institutional assessment tools. Land cover change within the reserve was quantified using Landsat 8 imagery for 2015 and 2023 to measure encroachment extent and internal habitat quality change. Wildlife population trends for elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, and hippo were assessed using counts from annual aerial and ground transect surveys conducted by Yankari management staff from 2018 to 2023. The Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) was completed through structured interviews with 24 reserve management staff and external conservation specialists. Results document a 9 percent loss of intact woodland within the reserve boundary over the study period, driven by illegal agricultural encroachment on the western and northern boundaries. Elephant counts show a modest but statistically non-significant increasing trend, attributed to improved anti-poaching patrol intensity following an international conservation partnership established in 2021. METT scores indicate significant management deficiencies in planning, resourcing, and community relations sub-components. Recommendations include updated management planning, community buffer zone development, and formalised revenue-sharing arrangements with adjacent communities to build local conservation support. Keywords: biodiversity conservation, Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi State, North East Nigeria, management effectiveness.