Securing the genetic resource base of Indigenous plants species: A Community Biodiversity Conservation Initiative
The project provided alternative sources of propagation, (home gardens for 500 households in 5 villages) increasing diversity around forest community while reducing pressure on the forest for these species. 175 Varieties of 35 crop species were saved in the community seed bank. Seed exchange and multiplication activities influenced the increase in cultivation of new varieties. Seed bank produced and sold over 10 different varieties of local tomatoes, yams and garden eggs. Proceeds was used to set up a Community Biodiversity Management Fund.
Our project is restoring indigenous plant biodiversity around forest communities in Nigeria where they have been depleted over time due to over-exploitation as well as contributing to preserving traditional plant varieties and wild gene pools for Indigenous people. Our project has provided alternative sources of propagation, increasing diversity around forest communities while reducing pressure on the forest for these species.
We have shown a link between Good Nutrition which these indigenous plants bring and health of the Environment and Forests around these communities. Irrespective of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our food systems, seed saved in the Community seed bank was able guarantee continuity in the supply and distribution of seeds which represented major boater to creating resilient local food-systems at the community.
Securing the genetic resource base of Indigenous plants species: A Community Biodiversity Conservation Initiative
We have developed a manual which can help smallholder women farmers replicate the solutions in the South West of Nigeria. At the national level, collaborating with policy makers to include indigenous food plants as key components of in the School feeding programs as well as the Anchor borrowers programme for micro-credits. Our Seed bank Open day programmes provide avenues for exchange and display of seed diversity as well as a model for local seed bank scale up to a national project for the conservation of a larger number of wild crop relatives in Nigeria. We are currently advocating at the National legislature to provide legislative laws on the inclusion of Indigenous food plants to the Nigerian Food policy programme. These initiatives when pulled together will contribute significantly to indigenous Plant Species Conservation.
With limited access to land, women are still custodians of Biodiversity with Knowledge to bolster food security. 65% of the participating community members were women. 53% ages 40-65, 47% ages 18-39. Women participation was supported by their husbands. This saw more women take decision on dietary requirements for their families and strong participatory roles in management and benefits sharing.
Households created small/medium-sized enterprises for steady economic growth which put less pressure to their surrounding forest. As a result of less pressure on the forest for livelihood, new revenue streams are up and running. Local base ecosystems have facilitated growth not only within the Forest Community but beyond, creating opportunities for decent work. Achieving social inclusion was to emphasize “local ownership”. Setting up spaces for dialogue that allowed for the active and inclusive participation of local people ensured that priorities were determined locally and that local concerns were at the core of all activities.
