‘Biggest cause of deforestation in Nigeria is small-scale farming’ — Dunn

 

Andrew Dunn is the Country Director, Wildlife Conservation Society, Nigeria. He spoke with CHINEDUM UWAEGBULAM on the rising demand for wildlife products globally and challenges of logging in the Niger Delta region.

<<CLICK/TAP HERE>>

Major watershed communities have been neglected and abandoned. How has this impacted on conservation? How do we ensure long-term management of these areas?
Watershed communities surrounding Cross River National Park, Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mbe Mountains may have been neglected but they have certainly not been abandoned.  A new United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Project ‘Watershed Protection for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply’ aims to increase water security and resilience of 137 communities and ecosystems that depend upon the Cross River Watershed in Cross River State and the Pai River Watershed in Bauchi State.

The project intends to improve availability of safe drinking water and gender-responsive sanitation facilities; ensuring that local communities and civil society organisations are engaged in the management of their natural resources and watersheds; providing improved opportunities for economically viable and sustainable livelihoods; and ensuring that protected areas serve as anchor institutions that maintain critical ecosystem services.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been working in both landscapes for more than 20 years, recognising that successful conservation needs the support of local communities. Long-term management of these watersheds should be based around strengthening existing protected areas such as Cross River National Park and Yankari Game Reserve, as well as developing watershed management plans with communities living on the edge of these protected areas.

Nigerian forests are being depleted yearly through logging, how massive is this trend? How do we ensure sustainable management of forests and benefits for the communities?
Logging has always been a threat to the remaining forests of Cross River State, as well as other areas in Nigeria.  Much of the lucrative logging in Cross River involves the logging of ebony for the export market.  In recent years, logging has increased dramatically – often backed by powerful local politicians, it has become a free for all and the rule of law has broken down.  The logging ban in Cross River State disenfranchised local communities and the Cross River State Forestry Commission has been unable to do anything at all, standing by while the state is looted.

We need to lift the logging ban in the state and allow local communities better control of their forests.  At the same time, we need to revitalise the moribund Cross River State Forestry Commission and improve the funding of Cross River National Park.  But logging isn’t the biggest threat to the forests of Cross River State and Nigeria.

The biggest cause of deforestation in Nigeria is small-scale farming – clearing forest to plant bananas, plantains, and cocoa. Cocoa is the major cause of deforestation in Cross River State.  WCS is working with more than 1,000 cocoa farmers in Cross River State to improve the sustainability of cocoa production to reduce rates of forest loss and protect local watersheds and wildlife.

Kidnapping and insecurity has been major threat to conservation activities in Northern Nigeria. How has this affected conservation of endangered species in the country?
Yes, kidnapping and insecurity has affected our work around Yankari Game Reserve in the last year, and it became too dangerous to visit certain communities.  However, we have always work closely with local security agencies and the situation has improved in recent months.  Kidnapping and insecurity were also a problem earlier this year in Cross River State.  Until kidnapping and security issues are addressed it is difficult to persuade tourists to visit our national parks, and revenue generation opportunities are therefore limited.

Nigeria is home to endangered species, what level of conservation education is in place to ensure change on behaviour and attitude in the communities harbouring the species?
Nigeria has already lost a number of iconic species including the giraffe, rhinoceros, and wild dog.  WCS is determined to ensure that species such as gorillas, elephants, lions and chimpanzees, are fully protected.  The key to protecting such species is by ensuring that we develop wildlife champions for the future, so that more people are committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s endangered species don’t go extinct.  In Cross River State, we have helped to establish more than 200 conservation clubs in local schools and this year, we have started establishing such clubs around Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State.  We also have a weekly radio drama programme in Cross River and extending that to Bauchi State later this year.

SOURCE: Excerpts from Dunn's Interview with Chinedum Uwaegbulam on Guardian News