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Chief Edwin Ogar. Ekuri Initiative, Nigeria: Community Based Benefits Sharing from the Ekuri Community Forest, Nigeria. . Community Based Benefits Sharing from the Ekuri Community Forest, Nigeria . Nigeria
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Chief Edwin Ogar Ekuri Initiative, Nigeria: Community Based Benefits Sharing from the Ekuri Community Forest, Nigeria.
Community Based Benefits Sharing from the Ekuri Community Forest, Nigeria • Nigeria • Nigeria is a populated country with about 170 million people, 250 languages and consist of 36 States and one is Cross River State • Nigeria has five types of ecological zones • Mangrove • Tropical forest • Savannah • Semi arid zone • Arid
Cross River State Map • Cross River state has 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) with three types of Ecological Zones: • Mangrove • Tropical forest • Savannah
Ekuri community • Consist of Old Ekuri and New Ekuri villages and is situated in tropical forest eco-zone • Sandwich between Ukpon Forest Reserve and Cross River National Park, IkoEsai and Okokori, Etara/Eyeyeng community forests to W and NE. • Belong to Nkukoli tribe and speaks Lokoli. • Predominantly are peasantfarmers and forest gatherers • Population of 6,000 • Joint owners of the rich biological diverse Ekuri community forest 33,600ha
Conceived the idea of community forestry in 1982 • Started formal community forestry in 1992 and established the Ekuri Initiative as an NGO with focus on conservation, sustainable forest management, community development and poverty reduction. • Generated incomes from the forest, other internal income sources and grants. Benefits sharing from Ekuri community forest • Community facilities, individuals, neighbours, government and the global community
Community Facilities • Construction of a 40km dirt road, all culverts and bridges to both Ekuri villages • Part funding of a health centre • Equipment and furnishing of the health centre • Building of a six classroom and furnishing • Refurbishment of classroom building and furnishing. • Building of a civic centre • Maintenance of facilities
Vehicle to ease evacuation of forest and farm products to markets. • Availability of forest resources • Inclusive community forest governance • Local, national and international recognition of activities • Proceeds from timber harvesting by the Ekuri Initiative • Deepen the preservation of traditions and culture • Pragmatic and sustainable activities
Benefits to individuals: • Skills development of youths and women in prioritized areas • Literacy improvements/awards of scholarships • Farm inputs to farmers • Micro-credit scheme • Health subsidy for the vulnerable • Wood subsidy • Seed capital – animal farming • Jobs creation through adding value to farm products
Regular incomes from NTFPs • Availability of NTFPs to neighboring communities • Water for downstream communities • Health improvements through the use of herbs • strengthening application of indigenous knowledge. • Improvements of knowledge in the community • Reduction in poverty • Improved social status of individuals • Strong social coherence
Government • Permit fees – timber and NTFPs • Contributions to CBD, UNFCCC Global community: • Climate change mitigation • Others environmental services – water, air, stabilization of the soil and erosion control, biodiversity etc.
How benefits sharing for individuals are implemented in Ekuri Community. • Eleven Etuoh (maternal lineages) exist • Each Etuoh selects and forward names of beneficiaries to each Ekuri village • Equitable benefits sharing among Etuoh • Promotes social cohesion devoid of external divide and rule • Considerably enhanced sustainability • Ekuri villagers inalienable rights to use of NTFPs/herbs.
Challenges: • Some unsatisfied persons clamoring for more benefits • Propensity by some for more benefits sharing for individuals against capital projects. • Interest of few to log the forest individually for self gains. • illegal forest lease of this forest • Logging moratorium since 2008 • Un-sustained supports from outside • Threat of encroachments by 2 community neighbors. • High maintenance costs of vehicle due to old age • Poverty
How these are resolved or addressed: • General Assembly (GA) of the Ekuri Initiative • Prioritized needs as approved by the GA are implemented or reviewed. • Convention of Nkukolination • Court cases/supreme sacrifice by the six • Looking inward for sustainability of activities • Peer to peer conservation in neighboring communities. END SHIEMORE (Thank you in Lokoli)
END C/o NGOCE, 65 Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Calabar – Cross River State, Nigeria. Phone: +234 803 546 1507 E-mail: ekuri1@yahoo.com www.ekuriinitiative.org