1. Key Outputs, Outcomes and Innovations
1. What were the key outputs that make your project stand out and were critical to the success of the project?

I. Training on the production of biogas provide added skills and alternative means of income for some youths of the communities.

II. There was also improvement in the well-being of people in the community as they received safe drinking water at close proximity to their villages, as three boreholes were provided, and one other nonfunctional borehole was refurbished, reducing the need to trek long distances to fetch water and resulting in a reduction in the exploitation and pollution of the stream that runs through the Reserve.

III. After series of awareness raising campaigns, there was increased local awareness of the importance of protecting and preserving the biodiversity of the environment.

2. What would you say are the key innovations that make your project stand out and were critical to successful environmental, social and economic outcomes?

Two innovative solutions form the basis of this project: 1) The partnership: graduating students of APLORI are recruited to support the community project on an on-going basis, providing technical support, ensuring project sustainability; 2) The management plan for the community piggery, which was handed over to communities after the project ended. The communities came up with a plan and as a result of the sense of ownership built during the project, were able to take over the management of the piggery, and have maintained it till date, almost 10 years after the project ended.


3. How did you engage the local community and key stakeholders to participate in the project?

i) General meetings with representatives of various groups (men, women, youths, and chiefs) in the communities were held to inform them about the activities lined up for the project, to ensure their involvement and support

ii) We conducted Conservation Education workshops where talks aimed at sensitizing the youths of the local communities around the Amurum Forest Reserve, about biodiversity conservation were presented. Resource persons from reputable conservation organizations facilitated these workshops.

iii) Community development projects were also embarked on like the construction of a piggery and three boreholes which alleviated the sufferings on the members of the community and reduced their dependence on the local community stream

iv) Skill acquisition trainings. Youths of the community were trained on Pork processing, piggery management, bio-digester construction and production of biogas. These trainings provided added skills and alternative means of income for some youths of the communities.

v) Youths were trained to carry out environmental education. This awareness creation was also done in their local dialect and they were also trained to carry out environmental education for children.

vi) A calendar showing pictures of 12 indigenous trees in 12 pages of the 12 months of the year and an almanac showing birds of the Amurum Forest Reserve were designed, produced and used as environmental education materials


4. What were the principal positive aspects of the project?

? The project brought community development projects to these communities like the construction of boreholes and the various training programs that were carried out. These activities have succeeded in alleviating the poverty in the area to some extent and has also led to some skill acquisition which if put into good use, will contribute in no small amount to the income of community members.

? our series of awareness campaigns has made the communities appreciate conservation and the need to conserve the biodiversity of their environment. This translated into community members becoming highly interested in the project due to continuous consultations and engagement. The success recorded in this project was as a result of the relationship we developed and our continued awareness creation on the need for conservation in the area. They have so far been very supportive of the project and are willing to contribute to ensure sustainability of the gains of the project.

? Skill acquisition trainings such as Pork processing, piggery management, bio-digester construction and production of biogas have provided an alternative means of income generation for members of the communities.



1. Products generated by the project: (Please list all the products generated by the project, give brief description on what, how, why, when and their uses.

I. Piggery: A piggery was constructed in the community and community members were trained in piggery construction, pork meat processing and piggery management. The piggery will provide pigs for sale as meat, waste for both biogas and organic fertilizer for a more sustainable farming system. This will on the long run, provide additional income and other benefits for community members.

II. Borehole water: The stream that runs through the Forest Reserve is utilized for washing and bathing, leading to deposits of harmful chemicals that may affect biodiversity. We therefore saw the importance of providing clean water for the communities around the Reserve. This will reduce their dependence on the stream and in turn reduce their impact on the stream. The boreholes would also reduce long-distance walks to fetch water, thereby improving their wellbeing, especially the women and children who fetch water from the stream. Lastly, the borehole water provides safe drinking water, reducing the likelihood of people falling ill from drinking dirty water.

III. Woodlot: the project increased awareness in environmental protection through the establishment of community woodlots (firewood farms). This will serve as a carbon sink as well as provide a base for sustainable wood harvest thereby preventing indiscriminate tree harvesting in the forest.


2. Give the quantity and quality of the products and any other useful information about the products. Please provide high resolution photographs of these products)

A calendar and almanac were produced.


3. List and discuss any innovative idea, product, process developed during this project?

1. Due to our robust engagement with the communities during the planning and construction of the piggery, including the series of trainings organized for them on pork processing, piggery management, and so on, the villagers showed full commitment and enthusiasm for the maintenance of the pigs, which meant that they saw the piggery as their own. They started making contributions to purchase feed for the pigs and to fuel the generator for running the piggery. When one of the pigs started to show signs of slow growth, they sold it and spent the proceeds on purchasing more feed for the other pigs. We were very impressed and amazed at their ingenuity, an act that showed that eventually when the piggery is left in the care of the community, they would be able to maintain and sustain it.

They also designed a plan for running the piggery with the aim of making the village a hub for pig purchasing. On their own initiative, they decided to sell piglets to community members at a subsidized rate and they proposed that the proceeds will be used to restock the community piggery. They all agreed that the community piggery will continuously be maintained and after adult pigs litter, piglets will be sold and the cycle continues. This was seen as a viable business plan because it will allow community members have access to raising their own pigs and get a source of income from an affordable source. So, when the pigs were bred, and started have litters with sizable number of piglets, we were confident that when the piggery if fully handed over to the community, it will be sustained and become profitable within a short time. At the end of the project, the piggery was successfully handed over to the community.

2. Another phase of the piggery project was in the production of waste for both biogas and organic fertilizer for a more sustainable farming system and with this in mind, an intensive training was carried out for the youths of the community on bio-digester construction and production of biogas. The importance of biogas as an alternative source of energy was discussed and participants were also informed of the use of the treated slurry as a more environment friendly manure for farming


1. Direct beneficiaries of Project, Capacity Building and Training/Skill acquisition

Ten youths (4 females and 6 males) benefitted from training in Pork processing and piggery management, Twenty (20) youths were trained in biogas production; Eighteen (18) youths were trained in conservation education to create awareness in conservation and 420 school children received environmental education


2. Describe the immediate and/or direct benefits received by the participants and/or the recipient communities?
i) Skill acquisition trainings were conducted. Youths of the community were also trained on Pork processing, piggery management, bio-digester construction and production of biogas. These trainings provided added skills and alternative means of income for some youths of the communities.

ii) There was also improvement in the well-being of people in the community as they received safe drinking water at close proximity to their villages. Three boreholes were provided, and one other nonfunctional borehole was refurbished, reducing the need to trek long distances to fetch water and resulting in a reduction in the exploitation and pollution of the stream that runs through the Reserve.

Environmental Impact
? What measurable impact has the project had in terms of environmental protection since the beginning of the project? Where possible, please provide statistics and numbers that document the change or impact of the project over time.
This project has contributed to wildlife and environmental conservation by creating awareness on forest resource overexploitation and involving over 70 women and youths in conservation education. Also, provision of pipe-borne water has reduced use and pollution of the stream running through the reserve by at least 50%. Conservation education and awareness led by community participants reached over 700 people (including >400 children). As a result, conservation awareness and the need for forest and wildlife protection has increased among the communities Improved living conditions has also improved the relationship between communities and reserve management, increasing support for conservation and ensuring increased and long-term protection of the reserve.

There was an improvement in the well-being of people in the community as they received safe drinking water at close proximity to their villages. Three boreholes were provided, and one other nonfunctional borehole was refurbished, reducing the need to trek long distances to fetch water and resulting in a reduction in the exploitation and pollution of the stream that runs through the Reserve.


? What have been the secondary benefits?

The project increased awareness in environmental protection through the establishment of community woodlots (firewood farms). This will serve as a carbon sink as well as provide a base for sustainable wood harvest thereby preventing indiscriminate tree harvesting in the forest. This will ultimately reduce forest exploitation over time and give the highly needed opportunity for the forest to recover.


? (Biodiversity) Have species, habitat or ecosystems been protected through your work? If so, please describe

The Amurum Forest Reserve is an Important Bird Area, hosting 278 bird species, more than 30% of total record for Nigeria within its 300 ha. Though protected, surrounding forests face severe threats from fuelwood collection. This project contributed to the protection of these species and their habitat.

Ecosystems of importance include a riparian forest, stream, savanna woodland and rocky outcrops


Socio-economic impacts
? What measurable change has there been in local incomes and job opportunities? (change in average household income, job creation, revenues, livelihood diversification, livelihood/income diversification, market access etc)

Income generation was not documented as this was not possible during the life of the project.


? Where possible, please provide statistics and numbers that document the change or impact of the project over time.

Christiana Stephen Abok and Joshua T. Nyam, two of the 10 community youths trained in pork processing and piggery management during the project started their own pig farms a few years after the training. As of 2021 (10 years later) they still manage their pig businesses. Christiana was also one of those appointed to manage the community piggery after the project ended.


? Have there been secondary benefits? (Investments in infrastructure, poverty reduction, higher awareness, etc.)

Azumi Arum Iron was one of several community youths who were trained and subsequently participated in SCERA?s environmental communication programme. A young secondary school student then, with funds she raised while participating on the project, she was able to pay for her school leaving exams, and today she is a graduate of History from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The project sparked that zeal in her for further education because she realized that education is critical for personal development. Presently (almost 10 years later), Azumi is leading an evaluation of SCERA?s previous projects and conducting an interview of previous project participants, thanks to the GEF-SDP project for this rear opportunity of an inspiring legacy.


Have revenues from the project been reinvested into school fees, hospitals, local infrastructure, etc?

There was no direct income from the project, except for stipends paid to the local youths who were paid for the management of the piggery.


Policy Impacts
? In what ways has your initiative advocated for policy change? Not Applicable
? Has there been success in influencing policy at what level (community, institution, municipal, regional) and what were the critical factors that made that success possible? Not Applicable
? What have been the barriers and the successes removing these barriers? Not Applicable
? Have there been any regional (subnational) or national policies or laws that were enacted or changed as a result of your project? Not Applicable
? (Biodiversity specific) Has your community engaged in the planning, implementation or review of National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans? Not Applicable
? (Climate Change specific) Has your community engaged in the planning, implementation or review of the National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs)? Not Applicable