PRCF Upcoming Programs | People Resources and Conservation Foundation

Community-based conservation of Red-capped Mangabay, Niger Delta Red Colobus, Leatherback, Green, and Hawksbeak Sea-turtles. Sustainable livelihoods and conservation awareness.

Africa Window: PRCF Nigeria

Our initial work

In Nigeria, PRCF partners with the Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRCC), a local non-government organisation that targets sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and preservation of community forest resources. With TRCC, we are developing programs to support community-based conservation in the country’s south an coastal area. Present efforts focus on building awareness and villager capacities for conservation management.

As the program develops, we hope to establish a more formal collaboration with TRCC, where our efforts would include additional support to the organisation in technical and financial aspects. To date our joint efforts target protection of the critically endangered Niger Delta Red Colobus, the vulnerable Red-capped Mangabey, and three threatened species of sea turtles occurring in the Akassa coastal region. Most of our programs are still in the planning stage, although TRCC has initiated some conservation awareness activities in Akassa, and through PRCF core funding TRCC has started social forestry activities to protect Red-capped Mangabey habitat.

Red-capped Mangabey Community Conservation Project

Species applied research

Activities under the Red-capped Mangabey conservation initiative, as well as endangered sea turtles and the Niger Delta Red Colobus include research into priority conservation needs for these species. We carry out action-oriented research to support our programs, for example to inform the preparation of species conservation action plans.

Akassa Community-based Sea Turtle Conservation Project

Conservation of threatened sea-turtles

With TRCC, we are establishing conservation efforts on the south-eastern coast, in the Akassa region, to protect threatened sea turtles. These sea turtles are threatened by hunting and egg-stealing by local people living in poverty. We aim to work with the villages to establish livelihood alternatives, increase conservation awareness, and establish sea turtle conservation and monitoring groups.

Niger Delta Red Colobus Habitat Restoration Project

Conservation of critically endangered primates

In tandem with other conservation activities under development, we are defining a program to protect the highly endangered Niger Delta Red Colobus, one of the World’s top most endangered primates. With about only 500 individuals, the species is threatened by hunting, habitat destruction, and pollution. We will research conservation needs and work towards these with local villagers, developing a conservation action plan for the species, and begin to restore its critical habitat.

Habitat restoration

Through PRCF’s support, TRCC is working with local communities nearby the forest habitat of Red-capped Mangabey, to establish tree nurseries and to plant native species that will help restore its habitat. To date, more than 2,000 trees of native species have been planted. Additional activities will include enrichment planting of degraded forests, and training on and establishment of assisted natural regeneration areas.