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The
African Research Association (ARA) has been tackling forest
degradation and environmental degradation in the tropical
forests and savannah grassland areas of Cross River State,
Nigeria since 1996. The ARA works through its rural
based community action project, Development in Nigeria
(DIN). Research by DIN in rural communities over the years
has repeatedly highlighted a correlation between poverty
and forest degradation where rural based households battle
poverty through forest-dependent livelihoods.
DIN
works with over 30 different community groups including
tropical forest hunter-gatherers, forest-edge farmers
and grassland pastoralists. Activities with the Christian
farmers and the Muslim Fulani pastoralists are focused
on sustainable natural resource management through reducing
poverty, promoting sustainable alternative livelihoods
and capacity building through activities such as providing
adult literacy services.
DIN's
close living and working relationship with communities
informs and deepens our research capacity and complements
other research carried out by DIN's Research,
Documentation and Policy Unit (RDPU). Our main research
objectives are three-fold: to facilitate participatory
learning and action leading to sustained community benefits,
to record and preserve indigenous knowledge through ethno-botanical
inventories and to monitor and document deforestation
in Cross River State.
DIN strives
to work in partnership with local communities to promote forest
conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
Working together with
community partners we aim to bring a lasting difference through the
sustainable management of natural resources and promoting alternative
livelihoods through micro-economic development.
Goals:
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To
conserve and promote sustainable use of forest resources
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To
reduce poverty and improve livelihoods
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To
develop and support civil society by empowering local communities,
particularly women and youth
Values:
The
staff of DIN are committed to the following guiding values;
For
more information on our projects,
where we work or who
we are, please contact us at: z.parr@aradin.org | 
