Funded projects
"Save a Species" Project: A Conservation Initiative for School Students Supported by Rufford Foundation
The “save a species’ initiatives” was a tremendous success. Students were grouped, asked to choose different animals or plants that they felt were threatened in the communities and came up with plans to save them. The contest for the ‘safe a species’ well accepted among them with more zeal and sense of dedication. With the weekly conservation lessons and field experience the students were exposed to, they demonstrated good understanding of practical conservation required in their communities. Students were grouped into two- one saddled with the task of developing a simple conservation plan for animals and the other group designed a plan to conserve plants that are highly sought and logged for firewood in the community.
One of the student groups designed a conservation plan for the Barn owls (Tyto alba), a bird species that is usually killed at sight in their communities. The traditional belief system of the communities considered Owls to mean evil or spell doom. The students scheduled time for talks and sensitization to their parents and other community members on the ecosystem function that the owls play in checking population of other preys and how innocent they are contrary to the traditional belief that they are witches or controlled by witches and wizards. Most parents believed their children knowing that they will not tell lies. The students were able to save some barn owls that were already captured for killing from their nests people. They also protected the T. alba nestlings that fall off from their nesting places by returning them back to the nests. We were truly surprised at the enthusiasm and passion the students demonstrated in the protection of animals and plants’ species. Other students and groups worked on projects to save the Pied Crow (Corvus albus), Northern Red Bishop (Euplectes franciscanus) and a local plant which is the most sought and used in domestic cooking.
"Green Schools and surrounding communities" Project: A Conservation Initiative Supported by Rufford Foundation grant
Desertification is a serious environmental hazards that is wreaking havoc in many parts of Sudan and Sahel Savannah regions of northern Nigeria. In an effort to reduce the continuing environmental catastrophe, we embarked on the "Green School" project where we engaged school students and teachers to plant trees on their school compounds and in surrounding communities.
We acquired and distributed seedlings to schools, village heads, youth leaders and women leaders. To ensure continuity, we trained students on raising tree seedlings so that their schools can then distribute to other places. This project was very successful and continued to expand to other schools and communities most affected by desertification. We are most grateful to the school principals and community leaders who keyed into the project. We are also thankful to the grant donors- The Rufford Foundation for sponsoring the project.
"School Conservation Clubs" Project: A Conservation Initiative Supported by Rufford Foundation grant
School environmental clubs play an important role in imparting knowledge, skills and attitudes required to foster sustainable development and thinking among young people. To champion this course, we embarked on the creation of environmental club across secondary schools in Bauchi State, North-east, Nigeria.
We designed environmental activities (bird watching being a major activity) that students partake in. We trained school based teachers who monitor the weekly activities of the clubs. This project was funded by the Rufford Foundation.
Sponsors/Donors
