By Eyo Nsima
The Chairman, National Executive Council, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Chief Ede Dafinone, has identified the launch of the new Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2021 – 2025 as a major achievement of the Foundation.
In his address at the just-concluded Annual General Meeting of the Foundation, he said: “A major and very important milestone achievement of the Foundation in 2021 was the launch of the new Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2021 – 2025. The new SAP is a strategic initiative that provides a 5-year roadmap for the Foundation. It has four key pillars focused on Spaces and Landscapes with emphasis on Forest Restoration; Species that emphasizes the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Species of conservation concern; Active engagement on Climate Change; and lastly, expanding NCF’s Stakeholders Engagement by building Constituencies for conservation through partnerships.
“To drive the new Strategy, NCF must work with people and institutions, and seek for more resources in a challenging environment. In this direction, we recognize the need for better technical and administrative efficiency in getting results and have adopted an approach that is smarter, time-bound, effective, and beneficial to our organization, our partners, and the generality of Nigerians. The new Strategy is aimed at further strengthening NCF’s leadership in the Civil Society space and enhancing its contribution to nature conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria, Africa, and the global environment. Beautiful copies of the NCF SAP 2021 – 2025 are available at the secretariat and as softcopy online.
“The previous year 2020, as we all know, gave us a little setback, thankfully, COVID-19 subsided and paved way for us to resume what we know to do best – nature conservation. We got to this point with the support of our partners and sponsors.
“The groundwork laid through our engagements with policy makers and key players in the environment and conservation sector over time have recently culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Environment that will give our Foundation an important leverage on all environmental and conservation issues in Nigeria. We have also renewed our strategic partnership with relevant government parastatals, which has now enhanced our prospects of expanding the coverage of our conservation activities unhindered with the required support.
“Part of our observations about the reasons people care less about nature or continue in practices that are destructive to the environment is ignorance of the adverse effect of these activities on nature. Hence, we increased our public awareness programmes through ensuring that we use all “environment days” to disseminate messages that could lead to attitudinal change. Days such as World Environment Day (WED), World Wetlands Day (WWD), World Pangolin Day (WPD), World Elephant Day (WEpD), World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD), World Bee Day (WBD), International Day of Forests (IDF), International Day of Biodiversity (IDB), among others.
“We intensified our campaign in the protection of marine lives. At one of the occasions, we issued a Press Release, which was widely used by both national and international media when a marlin fish was killed, and the video went viral on social media.
In our bid to promote the conservation of vulture species, we produced and premiered a video documentary that captured the essence and importance of vultures in the ecosystem. This was followed up with 2 different workshops organized for stakeholders in Abeokuta and Kano.
We are resolute and determined not to rest on our oars as we intend to increase our efforts at breaking new ground in stakeholders’ engagements and awareness creation in conservation and environmental issues in consonance with our strategic Action Plan. Your support to the Foundation all along has been commendable, just as your selfless love for nature has also kept the Foundation moving forward.”
Similarly, the President, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Izoma Philip Asiodu, noted that, “NCF is called the premier conservation organization in Nigeria because before it, there was no existing organization dedicated to wildlife, nature conservation, and environmental management in the country. As a Foundation, we are abreast of the current happenings in the environment sector in our dear country and our commitment to “a Nigeria where people prosper while living in harmony with nature” remains unwavering. This is further driven by the global attention on illicit trade in wildlife and its effects on the population of floral and faunal resources, and the global economy.
“NCF is called the premier conservation organization in Nigeria because before it, there was no existing organization dedicated to wildlife, nature conservation, and environmental management in the country. As a Foundation, we are abreast of the current happenings in the environment sector in our dear country and our commitment to “a Nigeria where people prosper while living in harmony with nature” remains unwavering. This is further driven by the global attention on illicit trade in wildlife and its effects on the population of floral and faunal resources, and the global economy.
“NCF is called the premier conservation organization in Nigeria because before it, there was no existing organization dedicated to wildlife, nature conservation, and environmental management in the country. As a Foundation, we are abreast of the current happenings in the environment sector in our dear country and our commitment to “a Nigeria where people prosper while living in harmony with nature” remains unwavering. This is further driven by the global attention on illicit trade in wildlife and its effects on the population of floral and faunal resources, and the global economy.
“One major milestone achievement of the Foundation in 2021 was the launch of the new Strategic Action Plan (SAP), 2021 – 2025, which is a call to practical action by the Foundation as well as all Nigerians across communities. The new NCF SAP which provides a clear 5-year roadmap for the Foundation has four key pillars: (1) Spaces – Green Recovery Nigeria (2) Species – Saving Species in Peril (3) Climate Change – Tackling the Climate Crisis (4) Partnerships – Fostering Collaboration with Stakeholders.
“While implementing projects that aligned with the key pillar of GRN, NCF embarked on several reforestation projects, ranging from creating school gardens to planting economic and fruit trees in schools and communities, to forest landscape restoration in Anambra State and other sites, to planting of trees in Omo Forest Reserve and some National Parks among others.
“Illegal trade in wildlife is a major driver of species loss. Thus, Nigeria needs to align with the growing number of countries around the world that have demonstrated their commitment to stopping poaching and illegal trade in wildlife. If conscientious efforts are not made, we may soon lose some of our endemic species such as Ibadan Malimbe, Rock Firefinch and its brood parasite the Jos Plateau Indigo bird, Anambra Waxbill, White throated monkey etc. This fear motivated us to intensify environmental education both in the city and among the locals. This depicts how we are passionate about saving species in perils.
“The unfortunate hacking of elephants and rhinos for their tusks and horns respectively; as well as killing of pangolins and vultures; sea turtles and other endangered species for their body parts for traditional medicine and delicacies persists, as does the illegal demand for ivory, scales, and horns; among so many other forms of trafficking in the endangered species that collectively share the planet earth with us. Pangolins have not fared any better. These intriguing creatures are now listed as the most illegally trafficked mammals in the world.
“Another strong pillar NCF considered very important is Climate Change. Climate Change is the biggest global environmental threat. Adaptive measures need to be taken now to protect arid regions in the northern part of our dear nation where desert encroachment is happening at a fast rate. As part of efforts to address the challenges of climate change, NCF, and others have been able to develop and execute some projects and activities that led to the sustainable management of nature amid the booming population and environmental challenges across the country so that posterity can enjoy a beautiful habitat.
“In the Partnership Pillar, we continued to boost our relationship with BirdLife International through their Africa office, WWF, IUCN, Federal Government through its Ministry of Environment and other allied parastatals. We expanded our frontier and signed MoUs with many organizations like WildAid, Oando Foundation, TotalEnergies Nigeria, and LUFASI. Chevron Nigeria Ltd remains our strong and committed supporter, as well as NLNG among others.
“I am delighted to observe that NCF has been able to sustain the series of lectures in honour of its founder, Chief S.L. Edu, while giving out doctoral research grants to distinguished scholars and future leaders in environmental conservation. Numerous thought leaders and foremost professionals have graced the occasion to talk about issues like sustainable agriculture, desert encroachment, water conservation, faith in the environment, wildlife conservation, and reforestation. As a flagship advocacy tool for NCF, the annual lecture serves as a platform for public discourse on national and global environmental issues.
“It is our desire to continue to raise our awareness to a much higher level, knowing that solving environmental issues will require truly robust action and response at the local and global levels as the conservation issues transcends borders. We should all join the call by conservation heroes and ambassadors to curb the demand for animal by-products by effectively enforcing our laws against illegal trafficking in endangered species, and volunteering with conservation groups that have the mandate to combat the threats facing these endangered species.
“NCF will continue to intensify its efforts, synergize with other partners to achieve greater results. I appeal to all of you to intesisify your efforts, as individuals and as members of various organisations,to make NCF a mass membership organisation. We should count our membership, not in thousands only. We must increase our membership to at least one million by the end of the current Strategic Action Plan.”
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, Director General of NCF, said: “As the Foundation continues to expand, enlarged and be more focused, we developed a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) that will last us for 5years in implementing very innovative and impactful projects and activities that will help the nation regain/restore its lost biodiversity and ecosystem.
“The demand for efficient action in supporting biodiversity and livelihoods contributed to bringing up this SAP 2021-2025, which is hinged on four key important pillars designed to contribute to more years of excellent conservation impact. In the year under review, the new NCF SAP provided good direction and guide for the Foundation and was instrumental to the many achievements we recorded even with the COVID-19 pandemic still hovering around.
“Under the First Pillar, SPACES, we continued to drive the Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN) Initiative that was launched in 2017. Altogether since inception of the project, we have planted 1.7 million tree seedlings as of December 2021.
“Great success was also recorded under the Second Pillar, SPECIES, which focuses in saving species in peril. We have dedicated our efforts, technical skills, expertise, and material resources to enhance the protection of the elephant as our flagship species. We successfully intervened in preventing human-elephant conflict in Andoni LGA, Rivers State through an education and awareness programme in November. Also, Nigeria National Elephant Action Plan Workshop held in June in Abuja. Essentially, waterfowl and water related birds surveys in the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands were carried out, and the total result was 710,833 individual birds were recorded from 87 bird species, a tremendous increase in both individual and bird species as compared to that of 2019 and 2020 records. These were addition to our continued work in saving our vultures is peril.
“The Third Pillar, CLIMATE CHANGE, designed to help NCF contribute to the global effort towards tackling the climate crisis recorded some achievements. Under the Climate Change Programme, among many others, NCF supported the government in the negotiation of the Glasgow Climate Pact, and the updated review of the Nationally Determined Contribution 2021.
“We increased our effort towards fostering collaboration with stakeholders which is the major focus of the Fourth Pillar, PARTNERSHIPS.
Business Development and Communications Department deployed strategy to engage with stakeholders across organised private sectors, corporate organisations, youths, faith groups and community-based organisations. This is in line with the new Strategic Action Plan of the Foundation. A number of these engagements have begun yielding results.
“Corporate and individual membership figures appreciated by 8% and 10% respectively. The goal of building a groundswell of advocates, supporters and volunteers in millions that will propagate the conservation message and advocate sustainable environmental actions remain unwavering.
“Our online communication improved remarkably, strengthened by engagement of resident professional graphic artist complementing our digital media activities. Consequently, followers across social media – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube increased with 15% across platforms. We maintained cordial relationship with the gentlemen of the Fourth Estate who continue to support our projects and events liberally.
“Fundraising recorded 10% growth when compared with the 2020 figure, a gradual post-Covid recovery. So, in the next 4 years, we will be more strategic in reaching the targets of this renewed order to see a greener Nigerian landscape that supports species, through an extended network of nature conservation stakeholders, and innovative approaches that convert climate change effects to opportunities for growth and better livelihood.
“In our South – South Zonal Office based in Calabar led in the establishment of the Gbaran-Ubie Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in 20 communities in Bayelsa State through afforestation programmes, trainings on forest resource management and the establishment of forest rangers within the 20 Taylor Creek Forest Communities. This is collaboration with SPDC
“Through our Policy & Advocacy office in Abuja, we participated in the review of the laws of the Nigeria National Park Service; served in the committee set-up by the Federal Department of Forestry to deliberate on issues relating to timber exportation and un sustainable use of other NTFP; an involved in the validation of National Strategic Action Plan (2021 – 2025) of the National Agency of Great Green Wall; and participated in the second technical workshop on the development of appropriate Legal framework and related advisory services: Synergies for Nigeria’s Climate Change Legislative Agenda and roadmap to COP 26.
“The annual lecture instituted in memory of our late founder; the Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture held in August 2021. An environmental youth activist from Kenya, Ms. Simangele Msweli delivered a passionate lecture on the theme “Youth and Ecosystem Restoration”. Three youth conservationists were recognized and awarded for their efforts in promoting conservation in Nigeria, while two deserving Ph.D students were awarded research grants, sponsored by Chevron Nigeria Ltd.
“Our conservation centres, of which Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) is our flagship project, have remained attractive ecotourism havens. LCC stands out because we continue to manage it sustainably. Lagos State Government through the World Bank project conducted research and adjudged it as the centre with the best quality air in the metropolis. The Finima Nature Park (funded by the Nigeria LNG) , Becheve Nature Reserve (Funded by Leventis Foundation) and others stand as representation and testimony to impact on environment and people within the year as various intervention programmes and community outreaches were conducted.
“As part of our community outreach and engagement, in partnership with Oando Foundation, we embarked on waste-to-wealth training for teachers in some selected schools in Lagos and held clean-up activities in their host communities. Similarly, we had an empowerment programme for members of the 21 communities of the Okomu National Park, Edo State. In making more impact and achieving great result using global environment days such as World Environment Day, NCF collaborated with Dangote Nig Ltd, Union Bank Plc, IHS Nig Ltd and FCMB to plant fruit trees in schools.”
He added: “We were able to achieve these feats due to your contributions and support to NCF in the realization of our mandate for the benefit of nature, the people, and our dear Nigeria. On our part, I wish to reiterate our unwavering commitment to nature conservation, ecotourism, and sustainable management of our environment. We acknowledge that we can do and achieve more only with your continued support.”
