News
2012
Collaborating with Oxford (April 2012)
The NMFP is now collaborating with William Hawthorn of Oxford University in the Rapid Botanical Survey initiative. Through this collaboration we should have all our tree species named at last ~ and species new to science~ recognised.
We will send herbarium specimens to Oxford and also as many useful digital images of plants and plant parts as possible. http://www.plants.ox.ac.uk/ plants/staff/WillHawthorne.aspx
NGO Status Approved (March 2012)
We are officially recorded as the Montane Forest Conservation Initiative Nigeria. Having NGO status will make us eligible for funding we could not access before. Thanks Kennedy (especially) for all the work you did in organising this.
Updates from 2011
Weather Station
There has been significant progress with research using the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) which was installed April 2009. Climate summaries have been generated and basic climatological information is now being archived for future research. This has given the climate modeling team (Mr. Iman Soltanzadeh and Dr Peyman Zawar-Reza) a chance to start initial model simulations for the region. The computer model of choice is called the Regional Climate Model (RegCM; http://eforge.escience-lab.org/gf/). RegCM runs on a parallelized desktop computer and can be used for regional climate prediction of up to 100 years in the future, and assessment of land-cover change on local climate. For example, questions such as: ‘Do precipitation patterns change in response to grazing?’ can now be researched using this model.
Initial RegCM model outputs have given us great confidence that this methodology is a viable tool for generating datasets that can be used in other disciplines such as ecology. Spatial variation in minimum/maximum temperatures and wind velocity can aid in investigation into seed dispersal and photosynthetic activity.
The great advantage of having RegCM data is that simulated data can be provided for geographic regions where measurements are not available. We plan to use this methodology to study the effect of land-cover change on regional climate.
Usman Abubakar, is doing an excellent job of downloading the data from the weather stations every month and sending it to Dr Peyman Zawar-Reza at UC. The data is summarised, put on the NMFP website and is being used by researchers. The data is freely available to anyone who needs it - see http://www2.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/~seg50/nigerian_data.html
Putty-nosed Monkey Research
Putty-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans) research is on-going with Musa Bawuro continuing to collect foraging and feeding data of the monkeys at Ngel Nyaki. As well as monitoring seed dispersal by the monkeys, Musa is now involved with a project supervised by Prof. Mike Lawes from Charles Darwin University in Australia. The aim of this new project is to understand the evolutionary significance of the distinct white nose of the putty-nosed monkey.
These monkeys are often observed sweeping their hand across their nose, a gesture reminiscent of swatting away flies. With advice from Mike, Musa is now collecting data to help understand the role of this signalling behaviour, the context of the signal and how the signal is performed and received.
Patrollers and Patrolling
There has been increase in number of patrollers employed by the Taraba State Government to patrol Ngel Nyaki Reserve. The patrollers, some of which are pictured above, have been provided with uniforms, boots, raincoats, cameras, GPS, and radios. Saidu Isa , ex Gashaka Gumti National Park is now working with the NMFP and he is in charge of the patrollers. We could not ask for anyone better.
This increased patrolling has noticeably reduced the numbers of poachers and snares in the forest. However Ngel Nyaki still faces many problems. Cattle are entering the forest in the same numbers as they were last year. Burning, associated with the cattle grazing is still happening and the future of the forest is still uncertain. The Forest Conservation Task Force (see 2010 Annual Report (PDF, 2.3 MB)) has had no noticeable positive influence on conservation of Ngel Nyaki.
Nursery and Forest Restoration
Sadly Augustine Ntim has been out of action since May 2011 with a very severe fracture to his leg following a motorbike accident. Because of this the nursery has become a little run down over the year. However now that Augustine can work again it is being restored and we are collaborating with Samuel Telltuly, Director of Forestry, Taraba State. Samuel is establishing tree nurserys across the State and has passed on some interesting material to us.
UN-REDD+
Report by Danladi Umar
The Taraba State Technical committee on REDD+ was officially inaugurated on 11th March 2011 at the Government House in Jalingo, the State capital. His Excellency the executive Governor of Taraba State Mr Danbaba Suntai was ably represented by the chief of Staff of the Government House.
Shortly after the Inaugural ceremony, members of the REDD+ Technical committee converged at the State Ministry of environment Head quarters for deliberations. The Governor, in a speech read on his behalf by the chief of Staff, gave assurances of full support to the Technical Committee, to enable it achieve the set objectives, and directed that a road map should be drawn immediately and sent to his office within one week for approval.
At its first meeting, the REDD+ Technical Committee was able to come up with an action plan for the REDD+ programme in Taraba State. A sub committee was constituted to fine tune the action plan and forward it to the Governor for approval.
The Technical Committee also assigned responsibilities to the various stake holders. The NMFP has responsibility to contribute in the areas of research and capacity development.
The Technical Committee members were drawn from; The Taraba State Government Ministries, Parastatals, NGOs, Educational/Research Institutions, Federal Ministry of environment and the UNDP representatives in Nigeria.
New Research Block Constructed
Misa Zubairu supervised the building of a new research block and associated structures. The new building is on the site of the original NMFP field station and comprises a herbarium, seminar room, computer room/library, office and store. Nearby is a ‘wet’ lab for the more unpleasant tasks such as sieving dung for seeds and hatching seed parasites. We also have a new kitchen and maigadi house.
Biodiversity of Butterflies
Dr Oskar Brattstrom University of Cambridge
Celaenorrhinus bettoni: This is a very rare skipper to find in Nigeria, it is previously only known from a few specimens taken at Obudu by Brattstrom and Robert Warren. Observed in ungrazed shrub-land close to the field station on the way down to the forest.
Ankola fan: Another very rare thing in Nigeria, also a skipper, and known from only two specimens again from Obudu. One single specimen caught about 200 meters below the field station level, in a small clearing in the forest.
Bicyclus smithi: A butterfly species I have found common both at Ngel Nyaki and at Obudu but still never seen reported from the area. It is considered to have its last outpost in western Cameroon (it is very common in central and East African forests) but clearly goes into the submontane zone of Nigeria. I also found what appears to be this species in a tiny mountain peak at Afi Drill ranch being very common above 1000m but never seen in the lowlands.
Bicyclus mandanes: A fairly common butterfly that for some reason never seems to have been reported from the sub-montane areas of Nigeria. It is present in lowland forest (preferably of a drier type) over large parts of tropical Africa.
Lachnocnema sp. I caught lots of odd small butterflies of this genus on the highest grassy peaks close to the field station. They don’t really look like the closest related species that is occasionally found on Obudu and might be something distinctly different. Can’t say much more at the moment and could just be local variation.
2011 Calendar (2.5mb pdf)
The annual NMFP calendar has been produced and is now available online for free. You are welcome to download and print it. The images show different aspects of the project work and all images are taken by staff, students and visitors associated with the research and education happening in and around the field station at Ngel Nyaki forest Reserve.
Updates from 2010
Conservation Initiatives
Good progress has been made this year regarding the conservation of Ngel Nyaki and neighbouring Kurmin Danko Forest Reserves.
The State Commissioner of the Environment, Gebon Timothy Kataps, has invited the NMFP to work with the Director of Forestry, Samuel Telatule and the Yelwa Forest Officer Mr Joseph Sunkan to ensure the long term future of Ngel Nyaki and Kurmin Danko reserves. To this end the NMFP is administering funds from the State designated for i) paying 50 patrollers wages for Ngel Nyaki and Kurmin Danko, ii) restoring 5 patrol posts which were built in 2006/7 but have never been used and iii) planting the entire reserve boundary with Ficus as a demarcation tool.
The patrollers are being trained by rangers from Gashaka Gumti National Park.
Time will tell how effective all of this will be. There has been opposition to the Ficus fence by the cattle owners, and sadly the first attempt was a failure as the planted posts were mainly removed. However on the 23rd August 2010 Commissioner Kataps visited Ngel Nyaki with other State Officials to discuss these problems with the village Juaro and other Local Government officials. The demarcation is going ahead again, this time with support from government officials.
Despite the increased number of patrollers, hunting is still an issue. Paul Dutton, working on chimpanzee ecology, is still finding regular evidence of hunters in the reserve and is taking good photographic records. Snares are especially common. We need to find a way of quantifying if, and by how much, hunting is being reduced by the initiatives in place. It is extremely important that hunters be held accountable for their actions.
Paul has also come across large trees in the reserve burnt down in an attempt to collect honey.
Misa Zubairu, co-ordinator of the NMFP, is now sending a monthly report to the Commissioner Kataps regarding infringements into the Reserve by cattle, their herders and hunters .
Adulkarim, Isa, Chief judge in Maisamari is being supportive of the forest in terms of prosecutions. Forest Officer Mr Joseph Sunkan is extremely dedicated to the task of protecting the Reserve from all main threats; cattle grazing and associated burning, hunting, burning of trees for honey and “hot” burns infringing into the forest from the grassland above.
Conservation Club
Misa Zubairu (NMFP Co-ordinator) now works alongside Mr Joseph Sunkan (Forest Officer) running the Conservation Club. Saidu Isa, ex-hunter and long time patroller from Gashaka Gumti National Park- now employed by the NMFP – is also involved.
They visit the local villages/settlements of Maisamari, Dujere, Mayo-Nyebbe, Zango and Yelwa village
Schools belonging to the Club include: Alpha Secondary School, Yelwa; Yelwa Primary School; Exxon Mobil Nursery School
New Building
Thanks to the Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, the Project is building a new, and much needed, accommodation block. Building began in July 2010, and the roof is now on. The building should be ready for students and visiting researchers by September. The building has 10 rooms. The idea is to covert the original building into a research block, with labs, computers and office space.
All of this has been organized by Misa Zubairu (Project co-ordinator), with support from Dr Kennedy Poloma. All the work has been sourced locally and the furniture will be made by the Gashaka Gumti National Park carpenters.
Weather Station
The data from the weather station is now on line and freely available. Usman sends the data to Dr’s Steve George and Peyman Zawar-Reza at UC, who keep the website updated.
The weather station was paid for from a grant from the EU Low Carbon High Growth Strategic Growth Program Fund. Administered through the British High Commission, Abuja.
Tantalus Monkeys
Elizabeth Sperling is working as a volunteer at Ngel Nyaki studying the reactions of local tantalus monkeys to three new neighbours and possibly the ‘soft’ release of the trio into Ngel Nyaki forest.
Jack, Audrey and their baby, Savannah were brought to Ngel Nyaki in December 2009 by Prof Janette Wallis.
Prof Wallis has been overseeing the care of these monkeys for the last two years while they lived in a cage on the American University of Nigeria (AUN) campus, in Yola.
Because Janette has now left AUN, the monkeys had to be moved to Ngel Nyaki so that we can attempt a soft release into the wild. At present, they are living in a cage at the forest edge and Elizabeth is monitoring their behaviour as they become acquainted with the local tantalus monkey troop that visits daily. We are also getting them accustomed to the local diet.
Liz writes: My project includes observing and cataloging behaviors of three captive tantalus monkeys (Jack, Audrey, and Savannah). Jack and Audrey were found on the AUN Yola campus by Professor Janette Wallis. After the birth of cycloptic Savannah, the three were relocated to magnificent, pleasant Mambilla Plateau. I am preparing them for their eventual release into the forest by feeding them natural foods that the wild tantalus eat, as well as determining the wild troop’s home range. I am utilizing ad libitum observation both at the cage and on the movements of the wild troop as they travel through the magical montane forest. Their interactions with Jack, Audrey, and Savannah are terribly fascinating and are providing vital information that should serve to speed their return to their natural habitat. When they are released, continued monitoring of their progress would aid to further understand the effectiveness of captive release programs. Despite the trials and tribulations of the rainy season, I have collected a fair amount of data which will surely benefit any reintroduction project the reserve may conduct in the future.
In addition to studying the behavior of captive monkeys, I am also conducting anthropological fieldwork in the local village. Crop-raiding by monkeys is a long-term problem that is being exacerbated by restrictions on killing wildlife. In order to find a solution, I am interviewing area farmers whose livelihoods depend on the crops that are affected by this destruction. With continued research, I am determined to find a lasting solution that benefits both man and monkey.
Gombe State University Undergraduate Field Trip
Misa Zubairu reports on the Gombe State University Undergraduate field trip to the Project. (14th-16th March 2010): Report on the University of Gombe State, on excursion from the Department of Geography. The students spent 3 days in Ngel Nyaki. Field station manager Misa introduced the staff, welcomed the visitors and explained the history of Ngel Nyaki reserve. The Gombe and New Zealand student research projects were also explained followed by more about phenology and the other activities undertaken at the fieldstation. The students looked at the data being collected. Gombe State senior lecturer Mbaya explained to them more about Ngel Nyaki. Most of them would like to return here for research in the future.
Ornithologists from the Nigeria Tropical Biology Association
The Project is very happy to be hosting a group of ornithologists from the Nigeria Tropical Biology Association in November/December this year.
The TBA have the motto: Building capacity for young Nigerian conservation scientists
In a letter to the Project the NTBA alumni group expressed their support of the initiative of NMFP of protecting fragment forest as well a threatened and endemic biodiversities in Nigeria montane forests. They offered to plan to contribute to the conservation effort through a two weeks survey of Turaco bird species at NNFR. The outcomes of the survey will be disseminated through the NTBA annual seminar series organised for students in conservation related disciplines in Nigeria.The NTBA also see this as an opportunity to involve tertiary institutions with the aim of sensitising on the significance of montane forest in conservation and possibly initiate collaboration among institutions, researchers and students necessary to enhance the conservation of biodiversity.
The group have been successful in gaining a grant from the TBA Small Grant Scheme titled “Spatial distribution of turacos and their preferred food plants in Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria”.
Interactions Expert from the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle
Dr Pierre-Michel Forget of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in France is an expert on the interactions between tropical forest trees and their seed dispersers.
Forget is visiting Ngel Nyaki during November 2010. During this time he will investigate the Carapa species in the Nigerian montane forests (see below- Forget holding a Carapa grandiflora fruit from Rwanda). Forget will also interact with research students and field assistants at Ngel Nyaki.
To find out more about Pierre-Michel Forget see http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0307-hance_forget.html
Updates from 2009
Scholarships/Fellowships/Grants/Jobs
Fiona Agmen has been awarded a PhD scholarship to continue her work on primatology. Fiona will work with Professor Colin Groves at ANU (Australian National University) Canberra.
Ralph Adewoye has been awarded a PhD scholarship from the National Agency for Space Research and Development and the Nigerian Forest Research Institute to work on remote sensing and GIS applications towards understanding the biodiversity of Nigeria’s montane forest fragments.
Samuel Temidayo (Dayo) Osinubi has been awarded an IFS grant towards his PhD research on habitat choice and evolutionary fitness in the yellow breasted boubou Laniarius atroflavus.
Aliyu Babale, a lecturer in botany at Gombe State University has been awarded a Nigerian University Grant to enrol at the UC for his PhD in ‘The fate of large seed in an Afromontane Forest’
Charles Ensor has been offered a position as Lecturer in biology at Gombe State University. In this new position he is being supported in his aim of enrolling at UC and completing his PhD research on “The relative importance of birds and insects as pollinators of a west african montane forest: a case study of Ngel-Nyaki forest reserve”.
Christy Udy was awarded a UC summer scholarship to study Dung beetle taxonomy, ecology and foraging behaviour.
People
There have been many visitors to the field station over the past year, including: Bubajoda Mafindi, the Executive Chairman of Basic Education for Taraba State; Prof Michel Noku, the VC of the new Taraba State University; Mrs Susan Eshett, Exxonmobil External Affairs Manager.
The Taraba State Task Force for Forest Conservation visited in November 2009. The group comprised Danjuma Audu, John Tiloni, Chefang, Adamu Abubakar, Tanko Blomosco and Hazechial Jalingo.
The Yelwa Football Team, The Yelwa Womans Group, The Yelwa Elders, The Yelwa Youth Group and the Yelwa Secondary School all visited the field station in November 2009 to support the NMFP in its interviews by Journalist Augustine Osayande, from THIS DAY national newspaper.
Prof Janette Wallis along with Ales Psaker and Betsy Espe, all from American Nigerian University, Yola, visited to deliver three tantalus monkeys. The tantalus trio have arrived from Yola, where Janette Wallis looked after them for over three years. The plan is attempt a ‘soft’ release, whereby the local Ngel Nyaki tantalus will become sufficiently used to the new arrivals that they will tolerate their release into the forest.
Training Course
This year Augustine Ntim began his year’s course in forest silviculture at Jalingo College of Forestry and Agriculture. Augustine will use his new knowledge in running the NMFP nursery for forest restoration.
Collaboration with the National Agency for Space Research and Development (NASRDA)
(July 09)The relationship between NASRDA and the NMFP has developed over the past year. We are working together to create a team of researchers to work on the biodiversity of Nigerias montane forests using GIS technology. We anticipate that two PhD students, including Ralph Adewoye, and two MSc students will be involved in the Project, as well as other researchers from UC.
Patrolling and Conservation
We are hopeful that something EFFECTIVE is emerging as regards the conservation of Ngel Nyaki Forest and the neighboring forests in the Donga Valley. To this end The Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Danbaba Suntai has set up a task force to report on the state of these forests. The task force is led by the ex Director of Forestry, Taraba State, Danjuma Audu and includes four other knowledgible forest officers. The task force is working in collaboration with the State Justice Department and the police.
The group are visiting all the local forests, but with most emphasis set on Ngel Nyaki. Levels of hunting, grazing and slash and burn are being recorded. The idea of a mobile court is being mooted.
The task force visited Ngel Nyaki on the 5th of November to discuss the situation here. In response the NMFP wrote a report in collaboration with the Taraba State Site Officer, Joseph Sankun. The report outlines the high levels of hunting, grazing and burning which are still being carried out in the Reserve, despite current efforts by NCF and NMFP.
Already the Governor has stated his intent to support a large proposal to employ over 50 new patrollers for the area- as an ongoing concern. The idea is that this funding will be administered through the NMFP. We are currently in negotiation of the details.
Conservation Club
2009 saw the NMFP Conservation Club grow considerably. We employed Markson Markus (who has worked with the NMFP for many years) to run the club, and he made visits to schools and villages on a monthly basis.
We now have seven schools/ coimmunities registered in the club : Maisamari, Ngarogi, Gembu, Dujere, Mayo-Nyebbe, Zango and Yelwa village. We have 412 student members. These are from the Government Day Secondary school in Maisamari (51 students), the University of Akure (16 students), Gombe State University (39 studenst) and the Alpha Community Service Secondary School in Yelwa (53 students). All students have gone on field trips in Ngel Nyaki Forest and listened to lectures about the work of the NMFP.
Official opening of Yelwa nursery school
(April 09) With much fanfare the new nursery school was formally commissioned on the 17th of April.
>>
Read the newspaper article.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor visits the Project
(April 09) Prof Michel Noku, the DVC of the new Taraba State University visited the project during April. It is anticipated that strong links will develop between the NMFP and Taraba State University.
Biodiversity surveys begin at Ngel Nyaki forest
(April 09) Dr David Blackburn from Kansas Sate Natural History Museum (left) and Assoc Prof Jon Harding University of Canterbury, visited the NMFP to begin amphibian/reptile and freshwater macro-invertebrate surveys respectively.
At least two new species of species of amphibian have so far been identified. >> Check out the Biodiversity List
Student benefits from supervisory agreement
(April 09) PhD candidate Danladi Umar is beginning his studies in freshwater macro-invertebrates at Ngel Nyaki. Danladi is the first student to benefit from the Gombe State University supervisory agreement with the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury. He has recently returned to Nigeria from a 3 month fellowship at the University of Canterbury under the supervision of Dr Jon Harding.
Climate researchers to benefit from new weather station
(April 09) The installation of a state of the art weather station at the fieldstation has been delayed. The British High Comission funded weather station was to be installed by Drs Peyman Zawar-Reza and Steve George from UC during April, but it was misplaced by the courier in transit and only arrived after they had returned to New Zealand. Once installed the the data collected will be available free to climate researchers around the globe via the UC website.
Updates from 2008
Primatologist Joins Project
(Feb 2008) We are very fortunate in having Professor Janette Wallis join the project as our primatologist. Janette is a faculty member of the School of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Nigeria, Yola. Her interest has taken her to many African countries. Presently she directs the Budongo field site in Uganda where her field assistants and students study chimpanzees. Janette has recently been elected as Vice President of Conservation for The International Primatological Society
The Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai has endorsed the Project and is providing financial and logistical assistance in the form of roading and communication. We hope that the Governor will be able to visit Ngel Nyaki in the near future.
The Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice ELIJAH L. NYARO has become a friend of the Project. Nyaro, who is from Yelwa village has visited Ngel Nyaki and provided support in many different ways.
(Samuel Temidayo) Dayo OSINUBI has arrived at UC on a College of Science PhD scholarship. Dayo is working with Hazel and Assoc Prof Jim Briskie on habitat choice in the double toothed barbet Lybius bidentatus.
Six students from UC are visiting Ngel Nyaki this season, Sept 08 - Feb 09). Tammy and Martin Korndoerfer are researching sustainability issues for an MSc in Environmental Science. Delyse Campbell is starting her MSc is restoration ecology and Kerry Anne Weston is going over for her second field season to complete her MSc research into Mistletoe pollination and seeddispersal.
Julia Hooper and a friend are coming over as volunteers fortwo months in January 09, after working in South Africa for the summer.
Arne Mattheus has had his MSc thesis published in book form
> Order your copy from Amazon.com
The Exxon Mobil funded nursery school in Yelwa village is complete and we plan to have an official opening in December.
Fullbright scholar Josephine Beck is heading off to Borneo to study primate acoustics. Her award from Fulbright and the Ministry of Research, science and Technology is worth about NZ$33,000. (June 2008)
Dominion Post >>
Charles Ensor has been awarded a Swedish Ornithological Institute grant to work on the bird pollination aspects of the web. (May 2008)
Kennedy Poloma has been granted a Gombe State University Research Fellowship to create a pollination web of Ngel Nyaki forest. (May 2008)
Nexen Continues Sponsorship of NMFP (January 2008)
Nexen Nigeria has volunteered to continue their sponsorship of the NMFP through 2008. Thank you Nexen!
The North of England Zoological Society and Mr A. P. Leventis have both continued their invaluable support. Thank you also.
The new Governor of Taraba State, Danbabi D. Suntai has committed his support to the NMFP and hopes that it will become an integral part of the new Taraba State University field studies programme. The Governor has pledged logistical, educational and financial support.
New tree species
Dr Douglas Stone, an expert on the Melastomataceae has identified one of our collections as
being a new species to science; Memecylon sp.nov (See photo at right). Doug identified the
Ngel Nyaki tree species thanks to Martin Cheek from the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, who
recognized it as being different from any other Memecylon he had seen in West Africa.
New Nursery School & Teachers
The new Exxon Mobile funded nursery school is just about complete and Taraba State Basic Education Board has pledged support in the supplying of teachers for the school.
Opening party for the NEXEN sponsored field station (December 2005)
Alhaji Sani Mohammed Musa (Galadima Nguroje) congratulates the NMFP on the completion of the Field Station at Ngel Nyaki.
Additional articles available in our News Archive