However, local trade on hornbills continues unabated as people near several forest areas are known to kill hornbills and sell their products. During the third year of the study, a school awareness program was conducted. This study selected 41 Primary and secondary schools located within 5 km from the Park with 6,454 students and 227 teachers, to enhance the level of awareness on the conservation of the hornbill. In addition, using 180 photographs of mammals and birds that occurred in the Park, an identification contest was conducted through school teachers, as awareness is the key in building conservation. Critical ecological processes are primarily linked with human-related disturbances which result from the overuse of forest resources.
Hornbills are sensitive to habitat destruction, and are large in size and feed mainly on fruits.
Therefore, accurate information on the hornbills will help in managing forest biodiversity. A well founded knowledge is that the hornbills are cavity nesters but there is no information on what are the critical nesting habitats and tree characteristics for their nest sites. A country-wide study of these threatened species to assess their distribution pattern, breeding status, and potential hornbill habitats has become a priority not only to safeguard their survival but also as an information tool in knowing the health of forests within and outside protected areas. 1999 - Vol.