The Okomu Biodiversity Stakeholders Platform (OBSP) held its last meeting of the year on November 29, 2024, at the Okomu National Park, Edo State, Nigeria. The meeting marked the close-out of the BIOPAMA Action Component (AC) Medium Grant funded project titled “Enhancing the Management and Governance Effectiveness of Okomu National Park, Nigeria” implemented by the Society for Sustainability and Conservation Education for Rural Areas (SCERA).

During the meeting, representatives from local communities commended the significant progress achieved in reducing illegal logging and enhancing peace around the park as a result of increased involvement of communities in the activities of the National Park. Assistant Conservator General (ACG) Cornelius Oladipo, who represented the Conservator General of the National Park Service (NPS), Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, commissioned a tree nursery and water borehole built by SCERA for Udo Community, one of the support zone communities of the Okomu National Park.

The ACG expressed his delight and satisfaction in witnessing the transformation of ideas to reality and the impactful results being achieved. In his remark, he lauded SCERA for her dedication, presence on the ground and successful implementation and completion of projects. He voiced his heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the NPS to BIOPAMA, who financially supported the initiatives. He further emphasised the importance of sustaining the momentum of the project and ensuring its continuity.

More than 100 beneficiaries from 11 support zone communities of the Okomu National Park trained in sustainable forest management, specifically beekeeping, agroforestry, and nursery management were presented with beekeeping equipment, 4,000 seedlings, accompanied with agricultural implements.

Under the 21-month BIOPAMA project, SCERA educated communities around the Okomu National Park about the importance of the forest and the need to practice forest-friendly livelihood activities that will reduce pressure on forest resources and strengthen protection of the Okomu National Park.

With financial support from the BIOPAMA AC Medium Grant and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), SCERA has supported the conservation efforts of Okomu National Park for almost two years. In January 2024, SCERA commenced activities during the first OBSP meeting in 2024 to support the Okomu National Park in the development of a participatory management plan. Subsequently, a workshop brought together local stakeholders to provide their inputs and agree on a roadmap for the development of the management plan.

As part of strengthening park management capacity, SCERA also provided equipment and materials including field gear (jungle boots, life jackets, raincoats, torch lights and water bottles), fuel and food rations to support forest patrols in 2024. The Conservator of Parks, Okomu National Park, Lawrence Osaze, expressed deep appreciation for SCERA’s support, noting that the equipment would significantly enhance their capacity to manage the park effectively.

Under this project, SCERA trained over 30 rangers in the use of technology (SMART and Global Forest Watch) in law enforcement patrols. More than 100 community people were also trained in beekeeping value chain (including carpenters, welders and bee farmers), agroforestry and nursery establishment/management. Beneficiaries trained in beekeeping were empowered with beehives produced by trained carpenters, bee suits, beehive tools, honey press and honey filters, while those trained in agroforestry and nursery establishment/management, mostly farmers, received tree seedlings and farm implements so that they can begin to put to practice what they have learnt during the trainings.

SCERA intends to continue to train community members in forest-friendly practices in subsequent projects to foster sustainable practices that align with the goals of conservation. These activities offer economic opportunities while reducing dependence on activities that degrade the environment. One of the trained beneficiaries, Chief Yabike French of Okomu Community, highlighted alternative livelihoods such as beekeeping and plant propagation as effective strategies to reduce pressure on park resources and thanked SCERA for coming up with these initiatives.

Under this project, SCERA also established a Tree Nursery, with a water borehole to supply water to the nursery. This borehole also brings relief to the people of Udo Community, who expressed the need for a borehole to provide easy access to clean drinking water.

SCERA promotes a community-based approach to biodiversity conservation and established the Okomu Biodiversity Stakeholders’ Platform in 2021, to foster a collaborative approach to the conservation and protection of the Okomu National Park. A Grievance Redress Committee has been established, and park rangers have been trained in human rights and social safeguards, fostering respect for human rights and increased community involvement in the protection of the park.

The project is a collaboration involving Sustainability and Conservation Education for Rural Areas, BIOPAMA AC Medium Grant and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation.