Ecosteward Foundation team engaging Bauanchor Community and youths on forest conservation
The conservation of nature transcends scientific pursuit; it embodies a profound moral and existential duty to safeguard life on Earth. As the consequences of deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss intensify, the need to preserve the last remnants of our natural ecosystems grows ever more urgent.
On 18 May 2024, the Ecosteward Foundation in partnership GreenFaith Nigeria embarked on a community entry and advocacy mission to the forest-dependent communities of Afi and Mbe Mountains, located within Bauanchor and Mbe Mountain Communities, Boki Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria a region globally acclaimed as a biodiversity hotspot and the last refuge of the critically endangered Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) and other mammals.
A Vital Ecosystem Under Threat
The Afi–Mbe mountain range represents one of the last remaining strongholds of Nigeria’s primary rainforest, part of the nation’s dwindling 50% intact forest cover. These lush tropical forests serve as biodiversity reservoirs, harboring chimpanzees, drills, forest elephants, and numerous bird species. Beyond their ecological value, these forests act as natural carbon sinks, mitigating climate change and ensuring water security for surrounding communities.
Local community members participating in forest protection dialogue
However, this vital ecosystem is gravely threatened by illegal logging, unsustainable land use, deforestation, and hunting. The destruction of forest habitats poses a direct existential threat to the Cross River Gorilla, the rarest and most endangered gorilla subspecies on Earth with fewer than 300 individuals remaining. Their survival is intricately linked to the fate of these highland forests that straddle Cross River State and neighboring Cameroon.
Ecosteward Foundation’s Commitment to Biodiversity Conservation
In partnership with local leaders and forest users, Ecosteward Foundation’s advocacy efforts seek to strengthen awareness of biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, and community-led environmental stewardship.
During community engagement sessions, Dr. Pius Oko, Convener of Ecosteward Foundation, underscored the ecological, economic, and cultural significance of preserving natural ecosystems. Forests, he emphasized, provide invaluable ecosystem services clean air, fertile soils, water purification, and climate regulation while sustaining traditional livelihoods through medicinal plants, food resources, and materials essential to indigenous and rural life.
Ecosteward’s advocacy extends beyond awareness creation; it calls for collective action and behavioral transformation. The Foundation encourages communities to adopt inclusive conservation models, discourage illegal logging, and embrace ecotourism initiatives that generate income while protecting habitats. This participatory approach ensures that conservation is community-driven, empowering local people as custodians of their environment.
The Cross River Gorilla: A Symbol of Shared Responsibility
Furthermore, Dr. Pius Oko emphasized that the Cross River Gorilla serves as a profound symbol of humanity’s interconnectedness with nature an emblem of resilience, coexistence, and shared destiny. The species’ continued existence reflects the ecological health of Nigeria’s forests and, by extension, the sustainability of human life itself. To protect this iconic primate is to preserve an entire ecosystem of interdependent species that underpins our collective future.
The mission to safeguard the gorilla’s habitat aligns with global environmental frameworks, notably the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and Goal 15 (Life on Land). The conservation of the Afi–Mbe–Okwangwo forest landscape is, therefore, not only a national responsibility but also a global moral imperative for the preservation of life on Earth.
Mbe Mountain rainforest; one of Nigeria’s last pristine tropical forests
Ecosteward Foundation envisions a future in which local communities are empowered as custodians of their natural heritage, embracing conservation as a shared societal value rather than an imposed obligation. Realizing this vision demands strategic collaboration among community stakeholders, conservation organizations, and government institutions to curb illegal forest activities and promote sustainable resource management. Long-term success depends on continuous environmental education and capacity building for forest-dependent populations, the creation of sustainable livelihood alternatives that reduce pressure on forest resources, strict enforcement of policies against illegal logging and wildlife poaching, and increased investment in research and monitoring of gorilla populations and overall forest ecosystem health. Conserving nature for humanity transcends environmental advocacy—it is an ethical pursuit of justice for both people and the planet. The Afi and Mbe Mountains, more than mere wildlife habitats, stand as the lungs of our nation and a living legacy for future generations. As Ecosteward Foundation continues to advance biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and community empowerment, one truth endures: the fate of the Cross River Gorilla and other wildlife species is inseparable from that of humanity itself—protecting them is, ultimately, protecting our shared future.
Cross River rainforest ecosystem in Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary