Biter-Kola Marketing and Conservation of Threatened Plant Species in Sub Saharan Rainforest Region

ABSTRACT: The extinction of plants and animal species from existence could be primarily tied to the activities of man on the planet, globally, ‘threatened species’ is an international connotation for species of plants and animals that are at the verge of ‘disappearing from their natural habitat’, in-spite of their value addition to humanity and the ecosystem. Bitter Kola or Garcinia Kola is a flouring plant found in the west and central region of Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study is to examine how strategic marketing could be adapted as conservation pivot for continuous existence of this plant within its natural habitation. Outstanding issues to be considered include; the damaging effect of urbanization, reduction or non-existing plant conservation research and increased interest of distribution intermediaries on profiteering. The theoretical framework for the study is the ecological sustainability dimension, A combined descriptive and exploratory research methodology was adopted, in which primary (comprehensive and in-depth interview) and secondary (journals, books and periodicals) sources of data were collected from Northern and Southern Iman, Enitan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria before the analysis. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between sustainable marketing of biter kola and increased productivity and conservation. The conclusion and recommendations of the study was based on the need for stakeholders to augment capacity on how to increase biter kola productivity; as well as protection of the tropical forest reserves through ecosystem through closer-to nature conservation management.

KEYWORDS: Conservation, Restoration, Closer-to-nature-management, Forest Health, Sustainable Marketing, Succession control and Productivity.