Our conservation drive to protect the last stronghold of the Niger Delta red colobus monkey benefits other threatened species found in the conservation area we have successfully co-managed with the Apoi community for the past 3 years. Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus Endangered; Home’s Hinge-back Tortoise Kinixys homena Endangered; West African Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis Vulnerable; White-bellied Pangolin Phataginus tricuspis Endangered; Anambra Waxbill Estrilda poliopareia Near Threatened; Red-capped mangabey Cercocebus torquatus Vulnerable; Nigerian White-throated Monkey Cercopithecus erythrogaster pococki Vulnerable; Sitatunga Tragelaphus spekii Vulnerable; and their population is rebounding, thanks to the protection effort etc. This speaks to the importance of the red colobus monkey as an indicator species.

 

To protect the last significant population of Niger Delta red colobus monkey, our strategy is defined by community leadership of the process and a collaborative approach aligning the conservation agenda with the principle of inclusivity and unity of purpose. The recently concluded 4-day management plan workshop stands out as a crucial moment of community-led conservation in Africa’s most populous nation. SW/Niger Delta Forest Project in partnership with Rewild guided the community leadership of the Apoi Community Conservation Association to craft their own protected area management plan. Through this process, they were able to further take ownership of the conservation process, determine their own destiny and the destiny of the many species depending on them for survival.

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From restoring degraded habitats, conserving critical species population, preserving vital wetland and mangrove ecosystems to implementing conservation education, livelihood programmes – the SW/Niger Delta Forest Project team are leaving no stone unturned to not only ensure that the Niger Delta red colobus monkey is save from extinction but that there is a multiplier effect from this effort transcending generations.

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SW/Niger Delta Forest Project and its partners including Milkywire successfully constructed and launched a radio mast with a 45km radius coverage along with state-of-the-art communication gadgets. This installation is boosting protection efforts in the Apoi Community Conservation Area. Since its installation it has significantly helped to curb illegal encroachment into the conserved area and in carrying out smooth operations to effect arrests.

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