Studies show that 60.3% of Enugu State’s population are farmers. However, traditional farming practices face imminent threats from land degradation, erosion, flooding, and the adverse impacts of climate change. Land degradation, stemming from soil erosion and deforestation, has decreased soil fertility and reduced agricultural productivity.
Understanding this challenge, South Saharan Social Development Organization in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, NCF, and the Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance implemented the Agroecology for Climate Resilience and Food Security (AGROCRAF) project. The project aims to enhance farmers’ resilience and sustainability in Enugu state’s rural communities.
The team organized a workshop over a four-day period from January 10th to 13th, 2024, in two communities: Eke in Udi Local Government Area (LGA) and Amagu Oduma in Aninri LGA, Enugu State. Ninety farmers from both communities participated in the training and were provided with improved seedlings to help improve their yields.
The training was facilitated by Dr. Agah Celestine from the Ministry of Agriculture, and It covered topics such as soil conservation, sustainable water management, reduction in the use of agrochemicals and composting, pest control, multiple cropping, rotation, and intercropping. Understanding the need to scale, the training went beyond agricultural techniques, guiding farmers through establishing cooperatives and securing grants and loans.
NCF, SSDO Organises a Sensitization Rally on Vulture Conservation
The Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) and South Sahara Social Development Organisation (SSDO) have carried out a walk and sensitization of residents of Enugu State on the need to conserve vultures.
The walk, which is meant to commemorate International Vulture Day 2022, titled: “A Mile for Egyptian Vulture”, witnessed sensitization within major roads in Enugu metropolis for several hours on Thursday.
The aim of the rally is to create awareness on the importance of vultures to the ecosystem and why they need to be protected, especially the Egyptian Vultures. Vultures are scavengers and natural cleaning agents. By feasting on carcasses, they remove pathogens and toxins from the dead animals that would have infected the environment. This is possible because their stomach contains a potent acid that destroys the harmful substances found in dead animals.
However, research has shown that the vulture population is on a steady decline and some species are fast going extinct. There is a healthy vulture population in Enugu state. These vultures existence is threatened by illegal killing and trading of vultures.
Mr. Oladapo Soneye, Head of Communications, NCF, stated “There is a wrong cultural impression people have about vultures. People assume seeing vultures mean bad omen and then do everything possible to get rid of them.” “Others say vultures are ugly and have no usefulness and then proceed to harm them. Today we want to change the narrative of killing vultures and destroying their habitat.”
Speaking, the Head of Programmes in SSDO, Mr Udochukwu Egwim, said the economic and health benefits of allowing the vulture do their naturally assigned role of environmental cleaning agents cannot be over-emphasized. Egwim noted that vultures ensure the “essential balance in the eco-system” and do much by their activities to protect life both of humans and animals in a given environment.
“We are on this to ensure that as change agent, which SSDO stands for, we ensure that our people do the right thing and ensure that international best practices meant to benefit every human on earth is done,” he said.
Egwim noted that it was unfortunate that about 150 vultures were found dead in Ihe community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state about two years ago.
“SSDO has carried investigation on the matter and did awareness with the residents of the community on vultures’ protection as well as set up a vulture volunteer watch group.
“The protection group, made up of hunters, farmers, youths and traditional authority, will watch-over and preserve vultures in the community henceforth and report any threat to NCF and SSDO,” he said.
Do you know that vultures and other scavenging animals are the natural cleaning agents that the earth has? Often, when people hear or see vultures, they automatically associate them with words like dirt, ugly, and evil. Yet they play an important role in keeping the ecosystem’s balance.
Through their scavenging activities, they control the amount of bacteria that would have spread to the human population. Hence, keeping the ecosystem clean and directly protecting humans from infectious diseases such as anthrax and rabies. Without vultures, the carcasses will lead to air pollution and microbes will multiply.
By feasting on dead animals, they reduce the likelihood of a swarm of flies gathering and help to keep their population in check. Vultures have a highly corrosive stomach that allows them to digest carcasses without being affected as compared to other animals. The enzymes also process these substances in their stomach ensuring that when they release their waste it is bacteria-free.
In the absence of vultures, animals like dogs and rats do the scavenging. Due to their close contact with humans, there is a high probability that the diseases picked up will be transferred to humans.
The Problem
Having understood the importance of vultures to the ecosystem, preserving them becomes a top priority. Vultures can be found in North and South America, as well as East and West Africa, particularly Nigeria.
“Vulture population has decreased by over 70% in Nigeria in the last 40 years”. – Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, DG, NCF.
There has, however, been a huge decline in the vulture population across Nigeria. Wildlife trade, hunting, poaching, spiritual and traditional healing practices are the primary causes of this decline. Studies from Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) also show that 500 tons of vultures are trafficked monthly in Nigeria. The different body parts of the vulture serve different purposes. According to a survey, the head is the most expensive part and is used in the treatment of epilepsy.
A study also revealed that vulture parts are used in making concoctions that claim to treat epilepsy, stroke, mental instability, and are used as a good luck charm in Northern Nigeria. While it is largely used for spiritual purposes in the South West.
However, vultures have no concrete spiritual usage in the South East as confirmed by Ike Nwakamma of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Traditional Worshippers in a VOA report. The South East, however, has a poaching problem. This was evident after a video footage surfaced online of 50 dead vultures in Eke-Ihe market in Awgu community, Enugu state in 2019.
SSDO & NCF Partnership
Investigations revealed that the incident was because of poaching activities. Poachers mixed concoctions, most notable tobacco with leftover meat from an abattoir in the market that attracts vultures. This was also confirmed by the traditional ruler, Igwe Godwin Ekoh. This highlights a major problem that results in vulture extinction. Having observed this trend, NCF decided to organize a workshop to sensitize the community on the importance of vultures to the ecosystem. It also looked to create conservation for vultures depending on the number discovered in the state.
As part of South Saharan Social Development Organization’s (SSDO) commitment to education, SSDO has partnered with NCF to set up conservation clubs in secondary schools. This would enable young ones to understand the importance of vultures and other animals to environmental sustainability.
The Endangered Species
Vultures on trees in Eke-Ihe forest.
There are seven species of vultures found in Nigeria: Egyptian vulture, Hooded vulture, White-backed gyps, White-headed vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon, Palm but vulture, and Lappet-faced vulture, of which five are on the verge of extinction. Direct exploitation is the biggest challenge to its survival. Hunting and poaching are the primary sources of the threat.
Our investigation reveals that the head of vultures is used for skin infections while the intestines are used to treat epilepsy. Human activities like deforestation also threaten vultures. Also, investigation reveals that a live vulture costs about #50,000 in the black market, a dead one costs #30,000, the head which seems to be the most important part costs #20,000.
Awgu Visit
NCF and SSDO had a delegation visit Eke-Ihe community in Awgu for an ex post evaluation to determine the impact of the 2019 sensitization and workshop. As well as to determine the size of the vulture population, find the vulture nests, and preserve the vultures. Evidently, there’s an abattoir that attracts the vulture to the community.
The NCF and SSDO team with Igwe Godwin Ekoh
The evaluation revealed that there has been an increase in the number of vultures in the community, which means the outreach and workshop proved effective. The team proceeded to the forest that houses the vultures to identify nests. Two nests were found during the visit. The Igwe on his part, also told the team that the community is doing everything within its power to preserve the forest and reduce human activities.
To get a proper assessment and sighting of the vulture population, the team liaised with the butchers to leave a sizeable chunk of meat and bone in the open. About 35 vultures were sighted in the community.
Preservation Efforts
The goal is to see that the vulture population in Awgu is protected and that they can gradually find a safe haven in Ihe forest that will enable them to thrive. The NCF team has also found out that for most purposes that the vultures supposedly serve in traditional medicine, there are better plant alternatives. This message has also been the focal point for the sensitization efforts.
The team also had an advocacy visit to Igwe Godwin Ekoh to discuss efforts on conservation of Ihe forest seeing how much of an endangered species the vultures have become. Efforts are also been taken to carry out sensitizations across communities with high vulture populations.
