WHERE WE WORK
WHERE WE WORK
Ise Forest Reserve
Ise forest reserve is a small reserve of about 46sqkm in Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria. The reserve is bordered by the Ogbesse River and the Ondo-Ekiti boundary along its western limits. The reserve can be accessed from Ise-Ekiti town which is about 6km on a straight line direction to the northern edge of the reserve and also the reserve is accessible from the south along the Akure – Benin expressway from the Uso community in Ondo State which is about 9km on a straight line direction to the southernmost limits of the reserve. The Ise forest reserve is considered an important priority area for Nigerian-Cameroon chimpanzee conservation in southwestern Nigeria.
Apoi Creek Forests
The Apoi Creek forests harbours the last most significant population of the Niger Delta red colobus monkey anywhere in the world. This swamp forest habitat has been the subject of much debate with regards to its location in relation to the designated Apoi forest reserve in government documents from the 1970s and the digital delineation in IUCN-WDPA-WCMC records. Notwithstanding, the area is also internationally recognized as a Ramsar site, an important wetland providing not just vital ecosystem services but sustains local livelihoods. It is surrounded by Apoi, Kokologbene, Gbanraun communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
Kolotoro-Ongoloba Community Forests
Located in Bayelsa State, Ekeremor LGA, the Aleibiri-Azagbene-Kunu-Sampou community forests is a cluster of forest area collectively owned by the Aleibiri, Azagbene, Kunu and Sampou communities. This is one of the last wildernesses where significant population of critically endangered Niger Delta red colobus monkey still occurs. This area also falls within the Niger Delta swamp forest ecoregion.
Edumanom Forest Reserve
The area known as Edumanom was since proposed as a forest reserve but essentially is used and managed as community forest land. The site is about 87km2 of mostly swamp forests containing relict populations of Nigerian-Cameroon chimpanzee, Sclater’s guenon amongst other important primates species. The area overlaps both Ogbia and Nembe Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State and includes patches of forests utilized by the Emago-Kugbo community in Rivers State.
Idanre Forest Cluster
The Idanre forest cluster covering an area of 2159.2sqkm is ecologically located within the unique Nigerian lowland forest ecoregion, which is part of the Guinea-Congolean moist forest zone and has been identified as biologically important as one of the last two remaining forest blocks in south-western Nigeria of high conservation importance. The forest cluster is made up of five forest reserves namely Idanre, Akure-Ofosu, Ala, Owo, Onisheri, Otu, Irele forest reserves in Ondo State including Ohosu forest reserve in Edo State.The Idanre forest cluster is equally one of three remnant areas that habours of forest elephants in southwestern Nigeria including the Okomu National Park and Omo forest cluster. Some other mammals confirmed in this forest cluster are diurnal primates such as the Nigerian white throated monkey (Cercopithecus erythogaster pococki), the Nigerian putty nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans insolitis), Mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona) and the red-capped mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus). Other wildlife resident in these forests include forest buffalo (Synerus caffer nanus), red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus), Maxwell’s duiker (Cephalophus maxwelli), sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), African civet (Civettictis civetta), Rock hyrax (Procavia spp.), Cuisimanse (Crossarchus ssp) and Western tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax dorsalis) and African tree pangolin amongst others
As part of our Ocean Stewardship Programme, Foropa Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa is the first community of our intervention. This coastal community is in a region deeply intertwined with the ocean that surround it. The marine life in this area is not only a crucial part of the ecosystem but also a vital aspect of the local economy and culture. Fishing is a way of life here, with generations of families relying on the bountiful waters for their livelihood. However, the community has faced significant challenges due to environmental issues, particularly oil spills which have had devastating effects on both the marine ecosystem and the people who depend on it. The people on the other hand, capture marine animals that have high conservation value due to a lack of conservation awareness and also as a result of the decline in fish stocks in their fishing grounds. The marine life, from the mangroves to the open sea, remains a testament to the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Niger Delta, despite the adversities it faces. Our work in Foropa began in 2024