Fostering livelihood security through forest conservation: Gilli Gilli Forest Reserve,

Nigeria

By

Ekeoba Matthew ISIKHUEMEN, PhDUniversity of Benin, Benin City, NIGERIA

ekeoba.isikhuemen@uniben.edu

BAP Project in GFR

GFR instituted in 1927/1935. Located on Lat. 50 551 & 60 090N and Long. 50 161 & 50 271E; covers land area of 363km².BAP Project Objectives:

to improve the wellbeing of forest dependent rural poor in communities, andto protect and conserve the integrity of the fragile ecosystems and associated life forms, andto promote alternative livelihood activities.

Fig. 1: Map of Nigeria (inset: Edo State); below: Gilli Gilli Forest Reserve

Political & Socio-cultural context

Community-based forest management

Biosphere model – core, buffer & transition zones

Grassroots consultative & Forest Management committees

Revolving small loan scheme

Disparate policies & laws at national, state & local levels

CBFM by-laws approved by State Govt.

Weak tenure & use rightsMulti-ethnicity; diverse

culture & value systems

Approaches

IWT context project sought to address

Regulate harvest of timber & Non-Wood Forest Products

Restrain poaching of wild animals

Prevent loss of endemics through unsustainable trade & use of resources

Restrict harvest of forest resources in fragile ecosystems

Flora Berlinia,

Brachystegia, Diospyros, Drypetes, Enantia,

Erythrophyllum, Hallea, Lophira,

Massularia, Milicia,

Pipterdeniastrium,

Xylopia, etc.

FaunaAfrican Grey Parrot, Black-

and-White-Tailed Hornbill,

Brush tailed Porcupine, Nile

crocodile, Eagle, Piping

Horn Bill, Snails, etc.

Fig. 2: Drypetes sp. ; Pisttacus erithacus

Challenges

High poverty level

Subsistence livelihoods: artisanal & itinerant fishing/farming practices

Infiltration of GCC & FMC ranks by perpetrators of IWT

Role of free riders/rent captors & their city collaborators

Poor M & E – failure to deliver critical success factors.

Exclusion of state government and/or its MDAs.

A

B

Fig 3: (A) : Log rafts in water; (B): Logs in truck

Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) in GFR Community involvement: rewards & impacts

Communities: rents Gender dimension:

males (aged 17 – 40y) earn $60 - $120 in logging; women: trade in NWFPs & live animals

Sale of IWT products: local

Seasonality: wet season (log truck), dry season (rafts)

Erosion of biodiversity & degradation of ecosystems

Fig. 4: (A) Crocodiles in captivity; (B) Living hut on Log rafts in a river

A

B

Key Lessons learned: Barrier to Success

Discordant policies &laws between State & BAP

Biomes – rainforest, Mangrove & fresh water swamps

Low status of biodiversity

Permanent and/or temporary inundation Use of MAB model– core,buffer transition zones.

14 communities in GFR – within enclaves & fringes: 5; disparate & far flung locations: 9

Multi-cultural, multi-ethnic disposition of GFR communities

Role of rent captors & city collaboratorsAntecedents of SPDC in the FR & Niger Delta areas

Key lessons learned: what worked wellBAP project - first multi-

ethnic and multi-community based project to tackle twin concerns of livelihood enhancement & conservation of forest biodiversity in Nigeria.

Successful baseline inventory of biodiversity

Successful establishment of small projects through small loans in some project communities (see Table).

STEPHEN OSUASOR

ANNA FIF

IEN

COMFORT O

GIOBU

FELICIA

MENE

GLADYS AIG

BEKAHEN

SMART E

DEMA

AGBAGA JOSEPH

MIK

E UKUNYON

KENU FLORENCE

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

AMOUNT REPAID

AMT/INT

AcknowledgementBig thank You!

To the IUCN CEESP/SSC, SULi, IIED, the Austrian Ministry of Environment, CEED at the University of Queensland, and TRAFFIC (the wildlife trade monitoring network):

For organizing the IWT symposium; For sponsoring scientists from

across the world to participate in this great event.