CERCOPAN

Centre for Education, Reserach and Conservation of Primates and Nature

Background
Founded in 1995, CERCOPAN (Centre for Education, Research and Conservation of Primates and Nature) is a non-profit, organization dedicated to conserving Nigeria’s primate communities through forest conservation, community education and support, primate rehabilitation and research.

Cross River State contains more than 50% of the Nigeria’s remaining forest area. It contains a unique assemblage of species as it is located at the boundary between the Lower Guinea and Congo Basin ecological zones. It is a vital refuge for primate species including five species of guenons, red-capped mangabeys, drill monkeys, Preuss’ red colobus, Cross River gorilla and western chimpanzee.

Nigerian primates have been drastically affected by the bushmeat trade and deforestation; Nigeria has lost over 90% of its rainforests due to rapid increase in population size and the correlative increase in logging, plantation forestry and slash-and-burn farming, resulting in the entire Nigerian primate community becoming locally threatened, with some species also globally critically endangered. Although now illegal in Nigeria, the bushmeat trade, and associated pet trade, is still a serious issue, with few laws enforced. The commercial nature of the trade feeds the decline, resulting in unsustainable exploitation of wildlife resources.

Community Conservation
CERCOPAN has been working in the region bordering the Oban Divison of the Cross River National Park (CRNP), and has, in the last 10 years, built up strong support for primate and forest conservation in its host village, Iko Esai. Together the project protects more than 50% of the community forest against exploitation from logging and farming (12,000 ha). Within this there are zones of use, some of which are completely protected against all exploitation, while other areas allow for sustainable hunting and collection of non-timber forest products. Primates are protected in the entire community forest, as a ban on hunting all primates has been imposed by the village Chief’s council.

Wildlife Conservation 

Rescue and rehabilitation of guenons and mangabeys who are victims of habitat loss and the unsustainable bush meat trade is also an integral part of CERCOPAN’s conservation work. To date over 160 primates of 6 species are in various stages of rehabilitation at both Calabar and Rhoko Centres. Three of these (the Sclater’s guenon, Preuss’s guenon and the red-eared guenon) are endemic to this extremely diverse region of Africa – designated a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ by many international conservation organisations.

Environmental Education
CERCOPAN’s environmental education programme has been ongoing since 1996 and is the cornerstone of the project’s success. They actively reach out to over 50 schools in rural and urban areas, and receive up to 30,000 visitors annually. Research conducted at
Rhoko Education, Research, and Conservation Centre adds to scientific data on this little known but highly diverse and valuable forest and its wildlife, and helps the project to make sound management decisions

An exciting recent development is a partnership with the University of Calabar, which has donated 11.5 hectares of land for the development of a rainforest conservation institute which will also be CERCOPAN’s new permanent headquarters. This will provide opportunities for Nigerians to learn the practical and theoretical skills necessary in order to work effectively to protect the environment.

Tusk Trust Support
Tusk has recently applied a grant of £6,000 to the project to allow them to initiate an intensive awareness campaign in neighbouring communities as well as expand their patrol and monitoring activities in the community forests. Additional patrols (4) will work together with community members and four existing patrols to protect a much larger area, up to 3,500 ha. CERCOPAN scouts will meet with the community, particularly the hunters, youth and chiefs’ council, to facilitate joint patrols and establish criteria and schedules, as well as publicize the new monitoring activity in order that everyone is aware of how the area will be monitored and what punishments for infractions might be; these joint patrols will encourage the community to become more ‘hands on’ with protection of their forest, and more extensive patrols will also help to spread awareness. The funding has allowed the project to provide patrols with waterproof digital cameras, and two way radios to allow communication; disseminate education materials in surrounding communities; purchase a Panasonic Toughbook laptop for use in the field and additional solar panels and deep cycle batteries.

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