PADIC-Africa trains Iko-Esai Eco-Guards on Forest Management Strategy, seeks participation of more women as volunteers
Ego-Guards during drill session at the 3-Day Forest Surveillance and Protection training in Eko-Esai
The management of Panacea for Development and Infrastructural Challenges for African Initiatives (PADIC-Africa) formerly known as Development Concern (DEVCON) has retrained over 23 Eco-guards in Iko-Esai community on forest surveillance and protection and seeks more women participation as volunteers.
The 3-Day training, an activity of the “Global Transformation of Forest for People and Climate: A Focus on West Africa”project funded by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), implemented by PADIC-Africa.
Speaking during his opening remark, the Executive Director, PADIC-Africa, Dr. Martins Egot said the project, titled; “Enhancing Iko-Esai Community Forest Management Strategy” is FAO Focus Area 3: Demonstration of Community –Based Sustainable Forest and Land Use Practices and Encouraging South-South Cooperation.
Dr. Egot who was worried over the low turnout of women as volunteer community Eco-guards said women should be encouraged to join the group of eco-guards.
Preparing the guards of the task ahead for the three days, the ED, explained that the project was to support further implementation of the existing community forest management plan, up-scaling the impact made in a project funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) implemented in 2020.
He added, “The project contributed to a long-term impact of the conservation of about 20,000 hectares of pristine community forest. The short-term impact was the actualization of forest management strategic actions that led to a developed community forest management institution, improved livelihood and development of an Eco-tourism destination for ecological studies and leisure.
“Activity 3.1.1.3 Undertake capacity building strengthening to the profit of Iko-Esai committee organization members including Eco-guards (Eco-guards refresher training)
“The activity focused on the custodians (Eco-Guards) of the core Community Conservation Area (CCA) called Rhoko forest in Iko-Esai.” Dr. Egot stated.
He further charged the trainees to take advantage of every detail to exploit more opportunities to come in the nearest future.
An Assistant Chief Park Inspector (ACPI), from the Cross River National Park Services (CNPS), Mr. Michael Charles took the trainees through a refresher course around the following subject: “Environmental Awareness with emphasis on disseminating environmental knowledge; Forest Surveillance and the diverse approaches ranging from patrol operations, planning, the gadgets required, patrol ethics and techniques, and on information gathering and leadership skills.
He delivered his presentation on Discipline and Team Spirit, Protected Area (PA) Management Covering (i. What a PA is, ii. IUCN categorization of PA, iii. Emphasis on National Park (category 13), iv. Why establish a PA, v. PA support zone committees (SZC) and vi. PA conflict and conflict resolution).
Other sessions that took place during the three days training were; in-house lectures, Para-military parade and drills, Field Patrol involving 3 women and 20 men.
During the 6 hours trek covering a quarter of the core CCA, it was observed that the core CCA has received an infinitesimal disturbance, extension of deforestation to the brinks of the core conserved area was also observed.
The few women in the team contributed invaluably to the patrol mission, as they were very instrumental in identifying wild seeds, fruits and nuts while the mission ended with no arrest of intruders and back.
Lady Eco-guard describing one of the wide seeds ( African oil beans) called Erang in local dialect during a patrol and surveillance mission in Iko-Esai forest
The high point of the training was on the third day when the Eco-Guards went on a road walk and campaign to the neighboring Iko-Eperem community. They were heartily received by their Iko- Eperem counterpart who were stirred up and pledged their commitment to work for the conservation and protection of their pristine forest.
More pics of Eco-Guards on surveillance training in the forest