Andrew Dunn, the Country Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Nigeria, recently discussed the global increase in demand for wildlife products and the challenges of logging in the Niger Delta region in an interview with CHINEDUM UWAEGBULAM.

While the communities surrounding Cross River National Park, Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Mbe Mountains may have been neglected, they have not been abandoned. A new project called 'Watershed Protection for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply,' funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to enhance water security and resilience for 137 communities and ecosystems that rely on the Cross River Watershed in Cross River State and the Pai River Watershed in Bauchi State.

The primary objectives of this project include improving the availability of safe drinking water and implementing gender-responsive sanitation facilities. It also seeks to involve local communities and civil society organizations in the management of their natural resources and watersheds, provide sustainable livelihood opportunities, and ensure that protected areas function as anchor institutions that preserve critical ecosystem services.

For over two decades, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been actively working in both landscapes, recognizing the importance of local community support for successful conservation efforts. The long-term management of these watersheds should focus on strengthening existing protected areas like Cross River National Park and Yankari Game Reserve, as well as developing watershed management plans in collaboration with communities residing near these protected areas.