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Projects
Project
Title: Sustainable Practices in Agriculture
for Critical Environments (SPACE)
Duration:
March 2004 - February 2007
Partner
Organisations: ARD,
GRADO, Sustainable Tree Crop Programme (STCP) of International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Agricultural Development
Programme (ADP)
Supported
by: United States Agency
for International Development (USAID)
Synopsis:
The goal of the Project is to conserve the most precious ecological
values and processes of Cross River State and slow agricultural
expansion into tropical forest through a sustainable agriculture
activity that will also enhance the welfare of communities that
border the areas of highest ecological value.
The underlying hypothesis of the Project is that the use of sustainable
agriculture production technologies can help reduce the use and
expansion of destructive farming practices. However, agricultural
expansion into tropical forests cannot be effectively addressed
through improved agriculture production technologies alone. Hence,
the SPACE project aims to also address the following:
-
Raising the perceived value of the tropical forestlands that
are under threat of conversion, e.g., through sustainable management
of Non-Timber Forest Products on these lands;
- Linking
sustainable practices to increased household and community incomes,
through strengthening value chains, thus providing tangibles
incentives for the adoption of these practices;
- Ensuring
that access to land is controlled and that “use rights and responsibilities”
are established prior to introducing sustainable agriculture
innovations; and
-
Assisting protected area authorities to better safeguard the
resources of the protected area system.
Achievements:
DIN
is working with four of the seven SPACE project communities: Ebbaken,
Bashu, Kanyang and Bamba in the Afi/Mbe/Okwangwo critical environments.
The SPACE Project is addressing the above objectives through an
integrated approach of the three project themes in all of the
communities:
Community
Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM)
An assessment of current land use has been carried out in each
community. DIN is working with target communities to sensitise
and mobilise the communities in participatory land use planning
as the main element of CBNRM. Through participatory mapping processes
and land use planning the communities are able to define and establish
community property rights and responsibilities that support effective
management for sustainable agricultural and natural resources
management. DIN is in the process of facilitating the participatory
land use planning in each of the communities and assisting in
the formation of Natural Resources Management Teams with in each
community.
Sustainable
Agricultural Practices
DIN's sustainable agricultural officers are working closely with
STCP and ADP staff in facilitating Farmer Field Schools (FFS)
with rural smallhold farmers. This innovative participatory method
of help producers work together to find improved production and
management skills through the discovery learning process.
The community profile highlighted the need to develop sustainable
Cocoa agroforests; sustainable food crops, using
Cassava; NTFPs, specifically Bush Mango
(Irvingo
gabonensis) and Afang (Gnetum
africanum).
Cocoa
is the most important cash crop in Cross River State, and is used
extensively on land converted from forest to agriculture. The
main aim is to reduce, or do not increase expansion into forestland.
Sustainable techniques include improvements in cultural practices
(e.g. controlling black pod through pruning) and post-harvest
practices (e.g. improving quality through improved fermentation
and drying). These activities are carried out on existing farms.
Cassava
is the most common food (and cash) crop grown in
communities near critical environments. Higher yielding and disease-resistant
breeds are being introduced to increase production. This is being
combined with improved primary processing for women which increases
entrepreneurial opportunities for women as well as enhances household
income and food security.
Bush Mango & Afang
- domestication and sustainable harvesting techniques are
being introduced to communities. Bushmango fruiting times can
be reduced to approximately 3 years (instead of 10+ years), which
will encourage the planting of Bush Mango on farmland. Afang can
be propogated successfully in communities. This reduces time spent
collecting the leaves,and increases household income through sale
at local markets. In addition pressure is reduced on wild Bush
Mango and Afang plants.
Protected
Area Management
The
Protected Area Management component of the SPACE project is to
strengthening participatory management and increase conservation
of tropical high forest and critical protected areas through strengthened
community forest management institutions. In addition SPACe is
contributing to improved implementation of conservation policy,
legislation and law enforcement. DIN is working in partnership
with 9 communities within the Mbe Mountains region towards a long-term
management option for the Mbe Mountatins, aimed at the conservation
and protection of its highly biodiverse area, with many endemic
species.
A
Forum was organised in May (25th -26th) 2005 to start the discussion
and dialogue between all stakeholders regarding the future management
of the Mbe Mountains. The Report is available here.
Project
Title: Forest
Monitoring Initiative: Developing Village Forest Economies and
a Monitoring Network to Secure Forest Rights for Poor Communities
in S.E. Nigeria
Duration:
March 2004 - March 2006
Partner
Organisations: Rainforest Resource Development
Centre , Cross River State (RRDC)
Supported
by: International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Synopsis: The goal of the
project is to reduce deforestation by controlling illegal logging
and farming practices in Cross River State. The project works
with all stakeholders in four forest communities (Opu and Balep
in Ikom LGA, and Abo Ogbagante and Biajua in Boki LGA) in Cross
River State affected by illegal logging, loss of forest through
unsustainable forest practices and subject to unsustainable NTFP
exploitation. Communities are empowered to establish village forest
monitoring networks to enable better informed community forest
management. The project seeks to encourage governments and community
leaders to comply with forest and environmental laws. Project
further facilitates village economic development through micro
environmental enterprises, including indigenous tree nurseries,
to take the pressure off wild resources, and to motivate groups
for community forest conservation through bush fire control and
environmental education.
Achievements:
Village
Mobilisation and Forest Monitoring Network activities
A
forest monitoring network (FMN) is identified as an important
tool for building powerful linkages between community-based organisations
for influencing forest policies at the grassroots and the State
government levels. The FMN meetings of FMN members drawn from
each of the communities are a quarterly event (every three months).
The purpose of the network is to establish a forum between the
communities to enable dialogue, share ideas and planning for community
forests management. It also acts as a source of information on
forest laws, logging activities and actions to be taken if community
forestry rights are not being respected. On 15th September 2004
the inaugural meeting of the FMN was held in Abo Ogbagante. The
meeting are held quarterly (every 3 months) in the different communities.
The meetings were attended by representatives from each community
FMN, DIN and RRDC staff. Issues that have been raised and discussed
are as follows:
-
Contending with community leaders that are involved illegal
logging;
- Legal
support in the case of conflict arising from FMN intervention;
- Misunderstanding
regarding the banning of logging rather than banning of just
illegal logging;
- Land
tenure issues – the four communities share boundaries with several
other communities that may undermine the conservation efforts
through unsustainable forest practices.
Strengthening
Village Economies
Within
each community DIN is working with women and youth groups on micro-environmental
enterprise projects. Some of the micro-enterprise activities identified
with the groups include tree nurseries/planting, market gardening
and NTFP domestication.
All
four communities have market gardens growing fluted pumpkin, waterleaf,
pepper, Okra, green and garden egg that all contribute to soup
condiments. The produce from the market gardens is harvested and
either sold at the local market or used by the individuals. Some
of the communities are able to generate a substantial income especially
during the dry season. This helps ensure both food and financial
security. NTFP domestication (Afang and Bushmango) is being developed
in all the communities at the moment.
All
communities have established tree nurseries of economic indigenous
and exotic species for timber and produce. The communities are
being encouraged to develop their own wood lots to ensure a source
of timber and firewood in the future.
DIN
entered in to an agreement with Abo Ogbagante community to enable
them to enbark on a livestock project. The community were responsible
for providing materials and building an enclosure, while DIN purchased
5 sheep on the communities' behalf.
DIN
has trained all the communities to build their capacity to plan
and make improved decision making on natural resource management
and to ensure sustained management of projects. Communities have
been trained in the following:
-
Transparency and conflict resolution - group record keeping
and financial management;
-
Micro-enterprise and income generating activities and business
management;
-
Participatory Mapping;
-
Ethno-botanical inventory keeping.
Rights
based community empowerment
Para-Legal
training was carried out by DIN's project partner RRDC through
an enlarged and/or a grassroots-based conference / workshop to
enable interaction and brainstorming by all the stakeholders.
The one day conference / workshop entitled 'Promoting community
participation in resource management through collaboration and
networking' was held in Ikom on the 24th March 2005. The conference
was attended by members of the of Forest monitoring network and
target community members, CBOs, Forest Management Committees (FMCs),
Village Forest Protection Organizations (VFPOs), RRDC and DIN
project staff, Volunteers, Project consultants, and the Media.
The conference / workshop provided a great opportunity for assessing
the training needs of the forest monitoring network including
training on forest and environmental laws, and forest monitoring
and sustainable management practices. It particularly created
a platform for grassroots networking, collaboration and information
sharing among members.
Project
Title: Environmental
Management and Capacity Development for Marginalised Communities
on Obudu Plateau and Plains, Cross River State, Nigeria
Duration:
March 2004 - March 2006
Partner
Organisations: None
Supported
by: Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Synopsis: The goal of the
project is to promote economic empowerment and participation in
decision making processes for Fulani pastoral women and other
marginalised groups to reduce vulnerability, powerlessness and
environmental degradation.
Through
this project DIN aims to introduce key development processes aimed
to reduce conflict, promote income generation and meet strategic
and practical gender needs of women, particularly the Muslim Fulanis.
Achievements:
Adult
Literacy
-
A
specialised literacy programme curriculum has been designed
by a consultant from the National Commission for Nomadic Education
(NCNE). The curriculum incorporates the specific needs of
the pastoral community. This curriculum has been successfully
adapted for the adult literacy classes within the adjacent
farming communities.
-
Literacy
classes have effectively started in 5 communities in the project
area. A total of 6 learning centres have been established
with 100 registered learners and women making 87% of the total
number. An assessment is carried out at the end of each phase
to assess the level of the learners.
-
Further support has been received from the Federal Agency
for Adult and Non-formal Education, Abuja, through the provision
of basic English primers to facilitate learning specific for
adult learners.
-
Contact and collaboration has been established with the Obanliku
Local Government Adult Education unit. The head of the unit
has been informed on the on-going literacy programme and collaboration
sought for the conduct of examination at the end of the course
and issuing of certificates to the learners. This is aimed
at improving recognition of the certificates within local
settings and improving the confidence of the learners.
-
Collaboration with NCNE Kaduna has continued and DIN is in
the process of obtaining radios for Nomadic radio listening
groups that had been registered to facilitate learning through
radio programmes broadcasted by the commission on various
environmental, health and social issues.
Woodlot
establishment
-
The Keji-Uku women have continued maintenance of their nursery
with support from DIN. Planting of seedlings is scheduled
to take place in May/June at the site identified by the women
for the establishment of the woodlot.
-
Another potential group has been identified in Bebi community
for the establishment of woodlot. Fire wood gatherers in Bebi
and a Bebi women’s group have indicated interest in establishing
woodlot in Bebi community. As off-season was missed for the
collection of seeds for nursing of seedlings therefore, seedlings
for the woodlot were provided from the DIN demonstration nursery
in Bebi. Planting took place in May and June 2005.
Income
generating activities
-
The Beben-Ayuluga women’s association of Bebi has been supported
in the establishment of a livestock project as an income-generating
project through the provision of goats (1 male and 4 female)
to the group in at the end of March 2005. Training on livestock
management is planned fro April. The livestock project was
identified through a participatory session with the group
to identify sustainable income generating activities. Training
on livestock management will take place in the near future.
-
Bee-farmers in Iyindeve, Emale, Ekor, Okpazange and Anape
are better able to sustain activities through support from
DIN beekeeping extension officer. Kenyan Top Bar (KTB) hives
constructed in the past phase of the project have been distributed
to these bee-farmers as well as smokers for harvesting. These
are bee farmers group DIN had worked with in past projects
and groups have been harvesting honey though in small quantities
due to limited number of hives. Farmers have requested for
further support –provision of bee suits to facilitate harvesting
process.
-
Planning on establishing of bee-keeping activities with Fulani
grazers at the Mambila range at Obudu Cattle Ranch has been
completed. The group has indicated interest in taking up bee
keeping, diversifying livelihood options.
-
A small participatory planning session with Fulani women of
Bebi community has been carried out and the women have identified
poultry as an alternative and sustainable livelihood option
for the group. The group has agreed to start up in May and
have requested support from DIN.
-
Extension needs and plan have been developed by extension
officers for the different community groups DIN has been working
with. Extension services and interventions are delivered based
on extension needs identified.
Governance
and decision making
- DIN
has established a dialogue between Obanliku local government
and the resident Fulani Pastoralists to establish a representative
"chief" fulani on the local chief's Council. The
Fulani have no legal / formal representation in the area at
present.
- DIN
has been asked by both the Obudu and Boki LGA's to contribute
to the LEEDS document (Local Economic Empowerment Development
Strategy), and there will have an input in to the implementation
strategy for both LGAs.
- Okpazange
women’s group have developed a constitution and register with
the Local Government Area Council gaining recognition as a
legal CBO in the locality. Keji-Uku women are in the process
of developing a constitution as well.
- Okpazange
women group have expanded on their business-trading in palm
oil, and are now planning to build a lock-up store for their
goods. DIN has agreed to support the women in achieving this.
The success of the group in the Okpazange community has attracted
the interest of more women, but the group have agreed that
membership will not exceed 25 persons for effective management.
This may encourage the formation of other groups.
- Gender
awareness talk held with REFULA women and Bashu women’s group.
Project
Title: Cross River State Environmental Non-Governmental
Organisation Capacity Building Project
Duration:
March 2003 - June 2005
Partner
Organisations: One Sky (Canadian Institute for
Sustainable living), Cercopan,
Living Earth Nigeria (LENF), The Nigerian Conservation Foundation
(NCF), Non-Governmental Organisation Coalition for the Environment
(NGOCE),
The Nappan Project (Canada), Silva Forest Foundation (Canada),
Laing and McCulloch Forestry Services (Canada), Greenhart Conservation
(Canada), A.C.I.C. (Canada).
Supported
by: Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA)
Synopsis:
One
Sky is the Canadian NGO implementing the project with the unique
Canadian-Nigerian Partnership, the Nigerian-Canadian Coalition.
The
goal of the project is to strengthen NGO capacity to affect policy
change and environmental improvement in Cross River State. The
project aims to support communities and Community Based Organisations
(CBOs) in the support zone surrounding two key protected areas
in the Cross River Bioregion. These areas represent the largest
remaining contiguous Tropical Moist Forest (TMF) in West Africa
with the highest biological endemism. The project builds the capacity
of coalition Environmental NGO's to carry out their mission, goals
and objectives. Support is provided for the development
of core capacity building including better financial and project
management, improved communication and networking, monitoring
and training activities.
Achievements
/ Progress:
-
Completion
of an Environmental education centre and classrooms for secondary
school. The EEC is a centre to bring community partners to
promote learning about environmental issues, and sustainable
environmental management.
-
Counterpart
Project Director was able to attend the Canadian Environmental
Network Conference, 'Braving the Rapids' and visit several
projects promoting sustainable agriculture. Through this the
natural resource management needs of the rural communities
was promoted to an international audience.
-
The
final production of the DIN Strategy for Future Development
2003 - 2006
-
Valuable
research for information on the complex relationship between
agriculture, forestry and liveslihoods has been conducted.
-
Conduct
Gender and Development training for 20 front line staff
-
Permanent
office accommodation for Research, Documentation and Policy
Unit in Calabar
-
Procurement
of computer and other office equipment for Obudu Head Office
and Bateriko project office.
-
Installation
of Solar panel technology at the Bateriko field office.
Project
Title: Community Conservation, Capacity Development
and Alternative Livelihoods in Boje (Ebbaken) and Bashu, Boki
LGA, Cross River State
Duration: March
2003 - March 2004 (Scoping phase)
March 2004 - February 2006 (Implementation phase)
Partner
Organisation: none
Supported
by: The Leventis Foundation (Nigeria)
Synopsis:
This
project aims to support local communities in the areas of Boje
and Bashu (Boki Local Government Area). Ebbaken (Boje) is home
to the largest European swallow (Hirundo rustica) roost
in Africa and is a recognised bird area (IBA 1094 as recognised
by Birdlife International). Bashu is important for the Red Headed
Rock Fowl (Picathartes oreas), which is rare and endangered.
In acknowledgement of the high conservation values of both sites,
the project aims to work with local communities in natural resource
management and conservation, to conserve the grassland and forest
habitats of these important bird species.
Support is provided through using DIN's expertise in developing
alternative livelihood projects with local communities and assisting
with natural resource management initiatives developed by the
communities.
Achievements in scoping phase:
-
Participatory
Learning and Action conducted with Ebbaken community (Boje),
June 23-29, July 28-31.
-
Production
of Community Facilitators PLA guide (for community members
involved in facilitating a PLA exercise.
(view in word format)
-
Recruitment
of Community Liaison Assistants: Two Community Liaison
Assistants (CLAs) have been employed at both sites (Boje and
Bashu). Training of the CLAs has started and it involves
introduction to basic social survey methods, simple techniques
in sustainable agriculture, etc.
-
Micro-Credit
Feasibility Study: A
formal survey (interviews using check list questions) has
been conducted at Boje (Ebbaken). The survey was aimed
at assessing the possibility of implementing a micro-credit
scheme with the community.
-
Women's
Tee Seed Nursery: A
tree seed nursery with a women’s group in Bashu is in progress
for seedling production and non-timber forest products (NTFP)
domestication. 200
seeds have been sown.
-
Dry
Season Market Garden: dry market garden has been established
with the Bashu women for the cultivation of indigenous vegetables
(fluted pumpkin, Amaranth, water leaf, etc). The women
requested that the garden should be integrated with the tree
seed nursery, to augment vegetable supply in the community
during the dry season when vegetables are very scarce.
So far a 25m2 plot has been planted with vegetables.
-
Ongoing
dialogue and confidence building: Dialogue and confidence
building is the first building block toward successful project
establishment, participation and adoption of new technologies
promoted by DIN. Community meetings (introductory and planning
meeting) have been an integral part of activities carried
out so far. In all, a good and harmonious relationships have
been established in both communities. This good rapport is
essential for the establishment of functional linkages with
communities.
Project Title: Forest
Monitoring Initiative: Developing Village Forest Economies and
a Monitoring Network to Secure Forest Rights for Poor Communities
in S.E. Nigeria
Duration:
March 2004 - March 2006
Partner
Organisation: Rainforest Resource and Development Centre,
Cross River State (RRDC)
Supported
by: International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN)
Synopsis:
This
project is aimed at reducing deforestation. It is a joint project
using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) advocacy & Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) analysis to look into the problem of
deforestation in certain epicentres in Cross River State.
Achievements:
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