CERCOPAN has been working since 2000 in Rhoko, 60 km from Calabar, capital of Cross River State, in south-eastern Nigeria. In this area, near Cross River National Park, home to one of West Africa’s last remnants of primary forest, Cercopan has supported the community of Iko Esai village in placing 20,000 ha of forest under protection, including 400 ha under strict protection.
The project aims to extend this protection to an additional 20,000 ha across three neighbouring communities — Agoi, Iko Ekperem and Owai — with the further objective of benefiting from the REDD+ programme currently being developed in Nigeria.
The REDD+ programme, reserved for large-scale forest protection projects such as this one, covering 40,000 ha, could potentially ensure ongoing financial support for the conservation of these forests.
• Improve the conservation of Iko Esai forest by strengthening the skills of community structures in management and conservation methods;
• Build governance capacity in 3 new communities near the forests, including REDD+ training.
To achieve this objective, CERCOPAN will establish and train 3 new community organisations, which will be brought together into a single entity alongside that of the first village, Iko Esai, sharing common objectives and experiences. The three communities will receive training in community-based conservation and REDD+, enabling them to play their role in protecting their forests.
