The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has organised a validation workshop as part of a study on Rapid Assessment of Policy Gaps for Sustainable Mangrove Management.

The study was conducted in partnership with institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), and communities in Ogoni and was funded by the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including representatives from Rivers State University, the University of Portsmouth, the University of Colorado, the Mangrove Action Project, and the National Council on Climate Change.

Other participants included the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CERHD), and the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA).

The study, which covered 10 communities in Gokana and Tai Local Government Areas, identified policy gaps and suggested inclusive actions, frameworks, and policy directions for sustainable mangrove management.

The communities include Bodo, Bomu, B.Dere, K.Dere, Lewe, Gbe, Goi, Gio, and Kporghor.

According to Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of HYPREP, the project’s mangrove restoration programme has recorded significant success, with over 1.3 million mangroves planted.

“We are adopting both restorative and conservative approaches in our mangrove restoration program,” Professor Zabbey said. “We are also in talks with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to commence a carbon quantification project and mobilise communities towards carbon credit.”

The workshop participants validated the findings and recommendations, expressing optimism that the study will influence policy directions, encourage citizens’ actions, and promote resilience towards sustainable mangrove management in the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, the HYPREP mangrove restoration programme has garnered global interest, particularly in Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The program’s update was recently published in the USA-based Mangrove News Digest, highlighting its impact on ecosystem restoration and the livelihoods of local communities.

The study’s findings and recommendations are expected to contribute to the development of policies and strategies for sustainable mangrove management in the Niger Delta.

With the project’s progress and global recognition, HYPREP is poised to make a significant impact on environmental conservation and community development in the region.