Decades of deforestation and over logging have created large expanses of degraded lands in many countries including Nigeria. Forests have to be protected and preserved. As repositories for terrestrial biodiversity, trees provide diverse habitats for plants and animals.
In the case of many communities in Nigeria the forests are sacred sites because they are regarded as home for sacred animals and temples of the god by the local people.
Human activities especially logging without replacing has led to deforestation which can be traced to the extinction of various endangered and sacred wildlife.
Reforestation may offer one means of mitigating these processes of degradation while sustaining biodiversity conservation.
To mitigate the glaring cases of deforestation and conserve endangered species in the Niger Delta region, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a project being executed by the Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation Project in collaboration with community members who play crucial roles in the conservation and protection of forests as they are the custodians of natural resources, living around the forests and relying on the land to provide food, medicines, and energy for their subsistence.
The NDBP carried out some activities, among which is the implementation of Community Biodiversity Action Plan (CBAP), within four Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, which were captured in the five-year biodiversity conservation programme which commenced in 2014.
Recently a group of journalists, led by the project’s team leader, Dr. Mathew Dore visited communities where the UNDP has various demonstration projects in the participating states in the Niger Delta. One striking feature of all the projects is that each forest is connected to deity in one way or the other.
Ikot Uso
The Ukot Uso Akpan Itam community forest in Akwa Ibom State is home to the Sclater’s Guenon, a monkey species endemic to Nigeria, popularly called Awa Itam meaning the first daughter of Itam. They are regarded as sacred primates to the people who told journalists that it is a taboo to hunt or harm them.
Elders sternly told journalists that the relationship between natives and the primates is so strong that indigenes do not eat monkey, even if they are outside the community, saying an indigene who mistakenly eats a monkey is prone to fall critically ill and must be brought home for sacrifice and cleansing before he/she will recover.
In conserving the endemic monkey’s the GEF/UNDP is seeking local regulation to protect the monkeys and help the community get tourist attractions that would boost the revenue of the community.
Ikot Edom
The team got to the fringes of the Ikot Ondo forest in Akwa Ibom State where the graves of ancient female warriors guard the mouth of the forest.
Here the UNDP through the Georgie Environmental Conservation Services (GECS), is carrying out a demonstration project on forest regeneration to restore the degraded area of the forest.
Speaking to journalists, the chief executive officer of GECS, Mrs. Emem Umoh, said the company in collaboration with the community planted 1000 trees covering two hectares, and needed to plant another two hectares of land in the forest.
She said: “We have a good record of survival but in the next two years we will go and check on the progress of the seedlings and where needed we replant. We will also aggressively sensitise the community members on conservation; that is the first project given to that community, because they have never seen anything like this before and most of them are ignorant so we have to school them, sensitise and educate them on environmental issues.”
Moho Community
Moho community, in Kogana kingdom is home of the mangrove which was formerly rich in aquaculture.
A native of the community, Le Balea, who was among one of the motorcycle drivers hired to take journalists to the mangrove, said the mangrove used to be full of fishes and so many fishermen used to fish there when he was much younger. According to him, the area was thick with mangroves and it was impossible to see the other side about 20 years ago.
Here the UNDP is also engaged in the planting of trees as catalysts for the conservation process. However, unlike the tree planting success stories recorded at Ikot Edom, the record of survival of trees planted in the area was very low.
Another native, Nudi Oliver, an elder in the community, said the community planted about 10 bags of tree seedlings provided by the UNDP around June, 2016, pointing out that none of the trees survived, even as he called for the Federal Government’s intervention.
Ndudi said: “The oil in this area is affecting the trees, we planted like 10 bags around June, July and none survived. The government should help us to clean the oil first after that we can now come in and plant the mangrove where it will be able to germinate and then I am sure the fish, periwinkle, the crab and all the others will come back.”
Alesa Eleme
The Onura Forest in Alesa, Eleme in River State, which concerned villagers said was fast being depleted, is home to the tortoise.
Addressing the team, the paramount ruler of Alesa-Eleme, Emperor J. D. Nkpe, said: “The tortoise is sacred to us, and people are not allowed to hunt them. In fact, it is forbidden to kill a tortoise in this community. And we are concerned that some get killed accidentally by motorists plying the highway; these are usually those that leave their abode in the forest.”
In conserving the endangered tortoises, the UNDP in collaboration with the community under the CEBAP, plans to fence a section of the forest to keep the animals from wandering beyond the confines of the jungle onto the highway where they get crushed by vehicles.
Alafara Community
Oke ohia Alafara – Great forest of Afara in Echeh, Rivers State is a sacred place regarded as home for the gods by the natives.
Addressing journalists, the community head, Eze Cyril Nwankwo, said the forest is also home to ajuala “viper” which is regarded as deity by the natives.
He said: “This forest is a scared place where we have alafara and people are not allowed in there. It started during the time of our forefathers; since it is sacred no person goes there except the owners of that land. So at the end of every year the chief priest goes there to appease the gods of the land. This is done because it is this same spirit we worship that will give a sign when there is an offence or an omen in the community in form of a snake, ajuala, viper.”
The associate project coordinator of the Community Protected Areas Conservation (CPAC), Mr Raymond Enunwaonye, said the community with support from the UNDP planted more than 500 plants under its enrichment planting project, which covered over 0.3 hectares, due to fire incursion that razed down parts of the forest.
Umuaja Community
Umuaja community in Akoku Kingdom, Ukwuani LGA, Delta State is believed to be the deepest inland waterway in Africa; the River Ethiope, unlike sources of other rivers, originated from the foot of a giant silk-cotton tree.
Here the UNDP is currently engaged in the reforestation of Umuaja sacred grove, using indigenous trees, and construction of concrete walkways for erosion control.
