PROBLEM STATEMENT

The increasing depletion of natural resources in Nwodua and Libga and its environs is attributed to annual ritual wildfires, inappropriate farming practices and inappropriate fuel wood harvesting with their attendant destruction of vegetative cover and habitat loss which have resulted in erratic rainfall pattern, drying up of water bodies, destructive storms, loss of indigenous medicinal plants, loss of biodiversity, increasing soil erosion, depletion of soil fertility, low crop yields, poverty, gender inequality, and seasonal out migration. Uncontrolled hunting worsens the depletion of wildlife in the area.

The Nwodua and Libga protected woodland used to be home to diverse wildlife species especially monkeys, and medicinal plants. However, forest cover which serves as the habitat of wild animals, is being lost to wildfires, inappropriate farming practices and other bad environmental practices with the resultant depletion of wildlife hastened by uncontrolled hunting. Urgent action therefore, needs to be taken to halt the destruction of forest cover, depletion of wildlife and medicinal plants and sustain the shea industry..

Relevance of the Project

The project is in line with GEF/SGP?s effort to promote landscape conservation to conserve biodiversity and improve on the socio-economic well being of people. In addition EPA has launched an educational campaign against bushfires in the Northern Region. Furthermore, EPA and Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines are encouraging all citizens and communities to establish forest reserves and sustainably manage forest and wildlife resources. The project is also in line with EPA?s effort to regulate, improve, and conserve the country?s environment in particular and the global environment as a whole.

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the project is to promote women involvement in landscape management through sustainable land and woodland management in Nwodua and Libga and its environs for the improvement of the socio-economic well being of the people.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the project are:
1. To promote sustainable development and natural resource management led by local initiative and self help activities in the community through the conservation of biological resources, sustainable land management, and management of wildlife.
2. To increase forest cover in the area through creation of natural regeneration areas, reforestation and agro-forestry practices to serve as a carbon sink.
3. To promote alternative livelihood support and reduce pressure on the forest as a source of livelihood.

Intended Results

The intended results of the project are:

OUTPUT 1 Awareness Created on environmental management and local capacity in wildfire management, Enrichment Planting, Controlled Hunting, Soil Fertility Improvement and Appropriate Farming Methods developed.

OUTPUT 2: Community Conservation Area established to secured sustainable resource base for the Shea industry

OUTPUT 3: Local women farmers trained in Appropriate Farming Methods and Alternative Livelihoods

First Quarter;

1. Community fora were organized with technical inputs from Fire Service, Agricultural Technical and Forestry Officers on their specific technical expertise. The women were also taken through women?s land rights by a traditional elder. In all, about 808 people including children attended the community fora which were often held in the evenings.

2. Sub committees of 10 members each were formed in each participating community to help facilitate the following activities: Environmental management, Community Land Management, Fire fighting Teams.

3. Training in tree nursery management, community land management, Soil Fertility Techniques and Agro-Forestry etc. Some trainees explained that some days in each week is reserved as a ?land resting day? when no farming activities are regarded as taboos. To them these practices contribute to the sustenance of the use of a piece of land for a long time for continues production of crops and livestock.

4. A 10000 capacity Mahogany and shea tree nursery has been established at Walewale, and two other existing nurseries at Libga and Nwodua which were in a very bad state were supported with nursery tools and training.

5. The following communities have established 15ha natural regeneration sites which they highly regard as stores for traditional herbal medicine sites: Pagazaa, Zoborgu and Sanga.

6. Education have been given to all participating communities on the need to build their own capital for livelihoods activities by providing the groups with the contribution boxes with all accessories in each box. Since the groups often experience difficulty in obtaining the contribution box and accessories.


Second Quarter Results

1. Purchased possible seedlings for planting and procured the services of 1 surveyor (transportation, fuel and per Diem for 3 Field staff for 5 days).

2. Trained Nursery Management Team

3. Trained Shea nut and Shea butter processors in 10 communities in local briquettes production

4. Trained and supported interested women in small ruminants rearing based on their interested choices.

END OF PROJECT REPORT ATTACHED.