Author: Omobolaji Durojaiye

On the 26th of  October, west African conservationist Iroro Tanshi was honoured with the 2023 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award from the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Tanshi won the award for conserving West Africa’s last two primary forests– the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Cross River National Park.

In her speech, Tashi said: “This is not just for me this is for all of us and for the nominees,” adding that “nature” was the biggest winner.

The Pritzker Award, presented annually, carries a prize of $100,000 that is funded through a portion of a $20 million gift to UCLA from the Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation. It is the field’s first major honour specifically for innovators in their early career — those whose work stands to benefit most from the prize money and the prestige it conveys.

Tanshi implemented an effective wildfire prevention program, informed by ecology research and community input, to warn people against dangerous burning activities on high-fire-risk days. Like many places worldwide, West African forests are threatened by wildfires that are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change. Logging and poaching pose additional threats to the forest ecosystems.

Tanshi serves as the co-director of the Small Mammal Conservation Organization, a grassroots initiative dedicated to preserving endangered species like drill monkeys and the short-tailed roundleaf bat, all while prioritizing the well-being of local communities.

Raised in a modest oil town in southern Nigeria, Tanshi experienced the detrimental impacts of the petroleum industry on the Niger Delta firsthand. This fueled her interest in ecology and led her to initially focus on bat conservation. Over time, her dedication expanded to encompass the conservation of entire ecosystems in West Africa. Tanshi aspires to extend her efforts continent-wide through collaborative work with like-minded, community-centred conservation and research groups.

“My team has moved from just one or two staff to 75 people” in the past five years, Tanshi said. “This army of people staffing the field will work together to change firescapes, which is what they are, back to forest-scapes.”

Tanshi was nominated by Timothy Watkins Sr., president and CEO of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life of South Los Angeles residents.

The other two finalists for the award were Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, executive director of environmental nonprofit Geoversity, and Hana Raza, chairperson of Leopards Beyond Borders.  

The panel of judges who chose Tanshi as this year’s winner was made up of Antonio Bernardo, dean of UCLA Anderson School of Management; Darnell Hunt, UCLA executive vice chancellor and provost; Jeanne Holm, deputy mayor of finance and innovation for the city of Los Angeles; Hans Mehn, a partner at Generation Investment Management; and Abel Valenzuela Jr., interim dean of social sciences and a professor at UCLA.

Tanshi received the Pritzker Award from Tony Pritzker, who founded the award and is a member of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability’s advisory board.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block noted the importance of the moment to the university in his remarks.

“One of our university’s great roles is to act as a convener — bringing together brilliant minds from diverse backgrounds to better understand and address the world’s pressing challenges,” Block said. “This award is a perfect example of that.”

Economic trees, found in urban areas, hold more than just ornamental value. They contribute significantly to both local communities and the global economy. These trees bear fruits, provide valuable timber, and play a vital role in environmental preservation. In this article, we will delve into the utilization and significance of economic trees, emphasizing their pivotal role in sustainable development. We’ll explore specific examples, the benefits they offer, and the challenges they face in today’s world, such as deforestation and climate change.

Versatile Utilizations of Economic Trees:

Timber Production: One of the primary uses of economic trees is for timber production. Trees like oak, teak, and mahogany are highly sought after for their quality wood, which is used in construction, furniture making, and various industries.

Fruit Trees: Trees like apples, mangoes, walnuts, and cashews are cultivated for their edible fruits and nuts. These provide essential nutrition and income for communities, contributing to food security and livelihoods.

Medicinal Properties: Many trees have medicinal properties. For instance, the bark of the cinchona tree is a source of quinine, used to treat malaria. The Neem tree is known for its antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Oilseed Trees: Trees like the oil palm and coconut trees are cultivated for their oil-rich fruits. These oils have various industrial applications and are used in cooking, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Environmental Benefits:

Carbon absorption: Economic trees are vital in mitigating climate change. They absorb and store carbon dioxide, helping to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

Biodiversity Conservation: These trees provide home and food sources for a diverse range of wildlife, supporting ecosystems and biodiversity.

Economic Significance:

Employment Generation: The cultivation and harvesting of economic trees create jobs for millions of people globally, particularly in rural areas.

Income Generation: Through the sale of timber, fruits, nuts, and other products, economic trees contribute significantly to the income of individuals and communities.

Challenges and Conservation:

Deforestation: Cutting down trees and using land in an unsustainable way is a danger to many valuable economic tree species. Efforts to combat deforestation and promote sustainable forestry are crucial.

Pest and Disease Management: Economic trees are vulnerable to various pests and diseases. Research and management strategies are essential to protect tree populations.

So in summary, economic trees are an integral part of our global ecosystem, providing a wide array of benefits from economic prosperity to environmental sustainability. Recognizing their significance and implementing sustainable practices in their cultivation and management is essential for a balanced and thriving future.

A Sit-Down with Martins Egot, Executive Director of Panacea for Developmental and Infrastructural Challenges for Africa Initiative (PADIC-AFRICA), Formerly Known as Development Concerns (DEVCON). In the interview with Mike Abang, the discussion primarily revolved around various issues concerning the Cross River National Park and the Community forest. One key topic addressed was the government’s decision to grant licenses to two mining firms within the Cross River National Park. Regarding this, Abang expressed his sentiments in the following statement:

“Apart from the fact that the environmental organisation is very concerned about the environment of Cross River State and its forest communities, we have been in very close partnership with the Cross River National Park for over ten years now. They have been part of building the capacity of the community eco-guards that we train and support to take care of, manage and carry out surveillance and protection of community forests. The National Park has been very cooperative and they have been seeing results from our partnership but this same National Park is being encroached. For example, in Ofumkpa, where this mining activity is happening, for two years now we have been having joint patrols with the National Park officers, Rangers and the community eco-guards that we put together in Ofumkpa, and they have been protecting the forests together. But suddenly, we hear that there is a licence given to companies to mine, there is so much disaster in that place and for us, it is very disheartening.”

Abang also voiced his concerns for the National Park facing imminent mining. He highlighted that Cross River State has been in a prolonged struggle against deforestation, an ongoing challenge. The region has witnessed significant damage due to activities like timber exploitation and uncontrolled deforestation, resulting in severe environmental harm. Amidst this ongoing battle, three distinct forest management systems played pivotal roles: Community Forests, Government Reserves, and the last stronghold of conservation, the National Park.

The Sanctity of the National Park

During the interview, when asked about the mandate of the National Park, Martins emphasized its significance. Established under the National Park Service Act, the National Park serves as the ultimate guardian of its ecosystem. Its primary directive is straightforward: safeguard and foster the diverse array of life within its confines. However, despite explicit prohibitions against mining, trespasses continued, posing a fundamental threat to its sanctity. This quote underscores his claim:

“The National Park Service Act (2006) unequivocally underscores that national parks are sanctuaries meant exclusively for the propagation, protection and management of vegetation and wildlife. Notably, Section 22 of the Act delineates the functions of Management Committees, reinforcing the exclusive dedication of national parks to the propagation, protection and management of vegetation and wildlife.

Section 29 makes an offence for any unauthorised person to go into the National Park without the permission of the Conservator-General. Mining activities are explicitly prohibited in section 30(1) of the Act which says, a person who, unless authorised to do so under this Act or the regulations under this Act, carries out an undertaking connected with forestry, agriculture, grazing or excavation or does any levelling of the ground or construction or any act tending to alter the configuration of the soil or the character of the vegetation; or does an act likely to disturb the fauna or flora; or engages in drilling, mining, prospecting or exploration of any kind of natural resources, is guilty of an offence.

The National Park, therefore, has the mandate to manage and protect the National Park and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development should not in any way, give out leasing rights to any mining company in the National Park and they know this. We are trying to get to the appropriate authorities to ensure that this is reversed as soon as possible. As we speak, it is still happening in Ofumkpa.”

Martins Egot fervently believed that the National Park held the potential to not only sustain the ecological balance but also to benefit the state and its people economically. Responsible tourism, he argued, could transform the park into a source of sustainable revenue, bridging the gap between conservation and livelihoods. While dissenting voices questioned the tangible benefits of the National Park, Martins Egot understood that its true value transcended monetary reckoning. It was the lifeblood of a delicate ecosystem, a sanctuary for a myriad of species, each playing a crucial role in the intricate web of life.

Empathy for Communities

Martins Ergot spoke on the threat these actions have to the communities. He said: “Yes. At some point, we pity them and want to reason with them, even though they are not completely right. I have been engaging directly with the Ofumkpa people, we have been working closely and they have been part of our patrols, listening closely to our conservation debates and discussions and they participate. When this happened, we took them on and they said they were accepting these people because they were promising roads, schools, employment and little stipends for working with them at the mining site. These are the things that pull and push communities to be part of it and we do not blame them, it is life survival as a community; because these communities neither have good roads nor schools and the people there are very poor. Our governments that are supposed to be supporting communities with all these amenities are not forthcoming. Again, the National Park Authority which is supposed to be empowered to engage well in these communities and provide for the communities, is not doing that. We talk about livelihood but what degree of livelihood projects are we pushing to these community people? We empathise and sympathise with the community people and so in that direction, I will be calling on the Federal and state governments, even international NGOs to intervene.”

A Call for Collaborative Action

Martins Egot’s wisdom echoed through the trees, urging governments and NGOs to join hands with the communities. Building bridges, he believed, was the key to safeguarding both the cherished lands and the livelihoods of those who called them home. The battle for the Cross River National Park continues, a testament to the unwavering spirit of those who dare to stand as guardians of the forest. In this emerald realm, voices rise in unison, unwavering in their commitment to preserve this natural wonder for generations.