Sustainability of Okomu National Park: SCERA hold Participatory Management Workshop
By Isaac Eranga
The workshop was put together by the Society for Sustainability and Conservation Education for Rural Areas (SCERA), in collaboration with National Park Service (NPS), Okomu National Park, and Okomu National Park Management Plan Steering Committee, with support from the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF). The workshop brought together key stakeholders representing various communities surrounding the park and officers of the National Park Service (NPS), led by the Conservator of Park (CP)- Mr. Lawrence Eghosa Osaze.
Speaking, an Independent Consultant Ruth Akagu said the workshop was meant to develop a management plan for the international park. She said the workshop brought together communities with all the key players to chart the way forward.
"The workshop is to move a little bit from how things were done in the past based on our needs assessment. One thing that stood out is that the community were not part of decision making and they are integral part of the protection and reservation of the park. Their ideas are not taken on board. So we are shifting from business as usual to doing what will give us result.
"Protection and conservation of the park becomes participatory when everyone that has stake are involved in the decision making process. But in a situation where people that have stake are kept out from decision making, it's no longer participatory, it's no longer equitable", she said.
Also speaking, a Professor of Tropical Forest- University of British Columbia (UBC), Dr. Terry Sunderland said SCERA should be congratulated for bringing all the key stakeholders together in order to come up with a management plan for the ONP.
"One thing we are doing here is coming up with a participatory management plan in getting stakeholders involved in the Okomu landscape.
"One of the big gaps in the landscape is that there is a lot of duplication of efforts and lack of coordination at the highest level. Communities are not involved in the process of decision making; lands are being annexed for nature park and the decisions to annex the land have been made without the community being involved. That is a big issue. The good thing is that we've brought everyone together and no one institution can lead the process. It has to be done by the government, NGOs, customary regulations", said Dr Sunderland.
Speaking about the importance of the workshop to ONP, the Technical Program Coordinator of SCERA- Joseph Molokwu said ONP is very important because of its biodiversity, cultural significance and being a refuge for unique species.
"For us to continue seeing these animals and diversities in ONP, the park has to be planned in a sustainable way. This is done in a participatory process where stakeholders are called to share in the production of a collaborative management plan. Every stakeholders will have his/her own opinion how it's going to happen. It's not something that can be achieved in a day, but in this workshop, we've taken the first step", said Molokwu.
Also speaking, the Acting Director, Technical Program for Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF)- Mr Adedayo Memudu, said ONP is unique among the committee of Natural Park in Nigeria.
"ONP stands out as a unique biodiversity hotspot because of the level of species, endemism and richness that you can find there. Many of the flagship species that are found in ONP are endemic only to ONP. When you talk of low lands, rain forest ecosystem, ONP is a bastion of hope, not only to ecologists, but to nature lovers across the length and breadth of Nigeria", he opined.
Lending his voice to the importance of the workshop, a Project Manager with the Africa Nature Investors (ANI)- Mr Peter Obanyam said the workshop is a step in the right direction.
"You cannot do a management plan without the people who are the primary custodians of the forest. For us to get benefit, the forest stay.
"The Edo state governor - Mr Godwin Obaseki is doing well in putting much efforts in engaging the people. It's better now compare to how it used to be. The governor has clear love for nature.
"As we work together, both NGOs, the government, and the community, I'm sure it will help protect not only the forest, but our lives", he said.
The representative of Ugolo community- Chief Engr. Festus Eboigbe and that of Okomu community- Chief Yabike French, lauded SCERA for initiating the workshop.
According to them, SCERA has addressed the issues of illegal hunting and felling of trees by communities surrounding the park. "Before SCERA came, we've never understood the benefits of protecting and conserving the forest. When they came, illegal hunting and logging stopped. They made us know that the park has many benefits for us. They've also made us understand the impact climate change will have on our children and future if the forest are not protected and conserved", they added.
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