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NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN NIGERIA

A number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are involved in conservation of biodiversity in Nigeria. Briefs of some of these NGOs are presented below.

1.      FIELD SOCIETY (NFS)

This Society was established in 1930 by Mr. A.F.B. (Frank) Bridges, B.E.M. (1895-1994). The mission was to explore the flora, fauna, culture and environment of Nigeria. The NFS is Nigeria's oldest volunteer group responsible for biodiversity conservation. The NGO carries out its mandate by organizing trips, talks and publications through its membership. The trips relate to traditional and contemporary culture, nature, the environment, sports and science. Recent trips have been to Yankari Game Reserve, Kano and Katsina Durbars, Omo Forest, Argungu and Benin Republic. Membership is drawn from the regions of Nigeria and United Kingdom (UK). Although it is a national association, It has branches in Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Benin City, Abuja, Ile Ife and UK  In a bid to actualize its set mandate, the NFS publishes a periodical journal named “The Nigeria Field. This publication chronicles activities of the NFS and  is an important source of scientifically recorded field observations on West Africa. The journal also covers culture, history and art of the Nigerian environment.

 

2. MURTALA MOHAMMED (FOUNDATION) MEMMORIAL BOTANICAL GARDENS

Murtala Muhammed Memorial Botanical Gardens (3MBG) is located along the Lekki – Epe Expressway. It was established by Mrs. Ajoke Muhammed, a Dental Therapist and widow of Late General Murtala Muhammed who devotes most of her time to environmental sustainability and preservation issues. Through this and other related efforts, she also co-ordinates the Green Belt Movement of Nigeria which is currently involved in tree planting and poverty alleviation programmes in some parts of Lagos State.

3. NIGERIA ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY/ACTION TEAM (NEST)

As a membership organization, Nigeria Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST) has the overall goal of acting in concert with an active nationwide membership to sensitize and empower Nigerians on issues of the environment and sustainable development, through the dissemination of factual information, training on skills acquisition and promotion of sustainable livelihoods.

4. PANDRILLUS FOUNDATION

Pandrillus was founded in the 1980s by Liza Gadsby The name Pandrillus comes from the genus for the species Mandrillus, and the Latin word for “all”, Pan. The mission of Pandrillus covers all drills both in captivity and the wild. The mission was to face the challenge of preventing the extinction of the highly endangered drill monkey Mandrillus leucophaeus. The mission of the foundation has since been expanded to include chimpanzees, and other wildlife that share the drill’s habitat.

Pandrillus employs a multi-faceted approach which combines in situ and ex situ activities, including: habitat protection, captive care and breeding, research, training, small scale development schemes, education and positive advocacy. The foundation works in collaboration with state and national governments, communities, traditional rulers, other international and local NGOs, zoos, advisory groups, and the private sector to achieve meet its mandate.

Pandrillus works in Nigeria and Cameroon as a Nigerian-registered non-profit trust. It is also registered in the USA as non-profit organization

 

5. CERCOPAN - Centre for Education, Research and Conservation of Primates and Nature

The mission of CERCOPAN is to conserve Nigeria’s primates through sustainable rainforest conservation, community partnerships, education, primate rehabilitation and research. Its two education and primate rehabilitation centres are the focal points for the organization. The education arm is located in Calabar (since 1995) and the rehab is in Rhoko near Iko Esai (since 2003). To fulfill its mandate CERCOPAN recovers primates through donations or by rescueing them from captors. In this wise, over 100 primates have been donated or rescued from hunters or pet keepers, their parents having been felled for illegal bush meat consumption. Iko Esai is actively conserving approximately 12,000 hectares of community rainforest, including 400 hectares of core protected land within the Akamkpa Local Government Area (LGA) adjacent to Cross River National Park in Akampa. The foundation has involved communities in managing their forests to protect wildlife and habitat. This has led to a community-wide ban on hunting of all primates in Iko Esai where community members are employed in patrolling habitat areas to protect animals such as monkeys, pangolins and forest elephants from poachers. CERCOPAN is also involved in student projects at the research centre at Rhoko Camp, including international research projects.

6. NIGERIAN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION (NCF)

Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) is a foremost Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria. IT was established by Chief S. L Edu in 1980 and registered in 1982 as a Charitable Trust under the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act of 1961 which was replaced by the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

The vision of NCF is to have “a Nigeria where people prosper while living in harmony with nature”. Her mission is tp preserve the full range of Nigeria’s biodiversity which includes species, ecosystems and genetic biodiversity;  promote the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations; and advocate actions that minimise pollution and wasteful utilisation of renewable resources. Consequent upon this mission, NCF is a veritable frontier for the conservation of biodiversity in Nigeria. This NGO focuses on environmental education, biodiversity conservation, policy advocacy, public sensitization on environmental issues, mitigating environmental pollution and poverty reduction.

To drive her mission, NCF embarks on various projects which include

1.      Lekki Conservation Centre

2.      Paricipatory Forest Management System

3.      Edo Biodiversity Action Plan

4.      Finima Nature Park

5.      Osse River Park

6.      Omo-Oluwa-Shasha Forest Reserve.

Among these NCF projects, Lekki conservation Centre stands out.

Lekki Conservation Centre  (LCC)

Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) is located on Lekki Peninsula Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, where it occupies a land area of 78 hectares.. The LCC is a conservation initiative meant to protect wildlife found in southwest coastal environment of Nigeria amidst sprawling urban development. Over the years, LCC has served, as an education and resource centre for several groups. .

The project has promoted environmental protection and worked against poaching by surrounding communities as well as serve as a tourist centre for local and international visitors. Continuous environmental education, awareness creation and research activities are carried out in the Reserve.

In terms of operations, LCC was established to serve as a conservation outpost of Nigeria’s southwest coastal mangrove resources and an information centre for environmental education and public awareness. Over the years, visiting students from various academic cadres have been able to learn through their visit to LCC practical steps to conserving our God given natural resources. LCC is also an environmental education resource centre to non-educated and semi literate visitors.

.LCC 78 hectare land area is divided into two sections: LCC Complex and the nature reserve.  The LCC Complex comprises of an attractive multi-purpose Rotunda surrounded by four office blocks. The office blocks contain project staff offices, gift shop, canteen and the drivers’ office. The facilities of the LCC Complex area were expanded in 1998 with the construction of the National Secretariat at the rear of LCC Complex. The nature reserve cuts across several vegetation types namely: secondary forest, swamp forest and Savanna grassland.

The swamp outlook affords tourists, especially nature lovers’ mouth watering opportunity of sitting back to beyond aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem interaction. On the other hand, there is a bird hide that enables bird watchers to view avifauna that are wading through the pool overlooked by the hide or foraging within the vicinity.  There is also a tree house. The tree house is one of the most fascinating features one can ever come across in an ecotourism zone. The tree house, is located on a stout Dawadawa tree (Pakia biglobossa) that towers above 25m. Enthusiasts climb to the top of the tree using the stout and well protected ladder. The rest stops as the name implies serve as rest points and picnic site for small groups of visitors. After the trail boardwalk is the nature station which is a recreation island in the middle of a forest. The foregoing captures the attraction of Lekki Conservation Centre as a tourist attraction in Lagos, Nigeria. For insect diversity of LCC follow this link http://t.co/etVNG4AOtw