NCF partners IITA on forest restoration, species protection

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has signed an agreement with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on conservation and protection of biodiversity.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) o this effect was signed by the Director General of NCF, Mr. Adeniyi Karunwi and Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Capacity Development, IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell. The two organisations will be undertaking the following in the next five years:

Exchange of scientific information and development of specific cooperative programs and projects, especially in the areas of Ornithological Bird Monitoring; Forest Restoration/Reforestation

Seed collection of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red-List trees.
Propagation and ex-situ conservation of ‘at risk’ plant species, especially trees

Vegetation surveys & assessments
Development of joint funding proposals

Participatory management of IITA Forest Reserve for conservation of threatened species among others.

The terms of the partnership between the two organizations also cover regular exchange of ideas and capacity building for staff in the areas of integrated forest management and protection of endangered species (both plants and animals).

For several years, the IITA Forest Project and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) have been collaborating on Schools Conservation Clubs in the Ibadan-Ilesa-Osogbo area, and on bird monitoring as required by the designation of the IITA Ibadan campus by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The IITA Forest Project in Ibadan is home to endemic Ibadan Malimbe (Malimbus ibadanensis), a critically endangered bird species found only in the Ibadan area, which has recently been seen for the first time in three years in the forest.