The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) says it is advancing climate-smart agriculture and forest restoration in communities across Bayelsa State.

The NCF’s climate change lead, Shittu Usman, said this on Friday in Yenagoa at a stakeholders meeting on “Catalysing Local Action for Climate Justice in Nigeria”.

Mr Usman noted that communities in the state were increasingly experiencing the realities of climate change, from shifting rainfall patterns to declining soil productivity and pressure on forest ecosystems.

He said that in response, the NCF, with support from the Ford Foundation, was implementing a targeted intervention to strengthen resilience, improve livelihoods, and promote biodiversity conservation in the support zone of the proposed Edumanon National Park.

He explained that the project was designed to build a strong foundation for community-led climate resilience by combining livelihood support, environmental conservation, and local governance.

“Through continuous engagement and capacity building, we hope to encourage long-term sustainable practices across the communities. The communities include Idema, Obeduma, and Eboh communities,” he said.

He added that, in addition to integrating climate-smart agriculture, it would also integrate women-led economic empowerment, youth engagement in forest restoration, and strengthened community governance systems, thereby creating a holistic model for climate action at the grassroots level.

The NCF climate change lead said that sustainable agriculture was at the heart of the intervention.

According to him, a total of 100 community members, including men, women, and youth, have already been trained in climate-smart agricultural practices.

“The training focused on sustainable land preparation, crop diversification, soil fertility management, and climate-resilient farming techniques.

“To ensure practical application, 1,000 improved plantain suckers were distributed across the three communities. Demonstration farms were also established, serving as local learning hubs where farmers can observe and replicate best practices to improve yields and adapt to climate variability,” he said.

Mr Usman further said that, recognising the central role of women in food systems and family nutrition, 40 women were trained in vegetable gardening techniques.

He said that the training emphasised small-scale, high-yield production methods, the use of organic manure, and efficient water management practices.

He added that participants received improved vegetable seeds, including okra, tomato, and pumpkin.

“The intervention is expected to strengthen household nutrition, enhance food security, and provide an additional source of income for women and their families. Young people in the communities were also engaged as key drivers of environmental restoration, with 40 youths trained in forest tree nursery development and management, including seed selection, germination, and transplanting techniques.

“Following the training, the youths successfully raised 40,000 tree seedlings within a few weeks. These seedlings are intended for future planting in degraded forest areas, contributing to reforestation, carbon sequestration, and long-term ecosystem restoration,” he said.

Speaking at the event, a community development chairman, Leslie Odu, said that the programme was helping to deepen awareness within communities about the importance of conservation and sustainable resource management.

Ms Odu also said that the engagement with local leaders was encouraging stronger community participation in protecting forests and mangroves in the state for future generations.

Similarly, Rose Ebufu, a beneficiary, said that the vegetable gardening training had given her new knowledge and skills that she believed would help improve food production for her family and create additional income opportunities.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and participate,” Ms Ebufu said.

Meanwhile, speaking on the initiative’s long-term importance, the director-general of the NCF, Joseph Onoja, said that lasting conservation outcomes were more achievable when local communities were equipped with the knowledge, tools, and opportunities to participate meaningfully.

According to him, this intervention reflects NCF’s commitment to supporting people-centred approaches that promote both environmental sustainability and resilient livelihoods.

Beyond livelihoods and restoration, the project also focused on governance.

The NCF facilitated dialogue sessions with community and religious leaders on mangrove and forest protection, sustainable resource use, and the prevention of illegal exploitation of forest resources.

A key outcome of these engagements is the commitment of local leaders to develop and enforce community bylaws to protect forest ecosystems.

This strengthens local ownership and ensures the sustainability of conservation efforts.

The intervention demonstrates how integrated community-based approaches can address both environmental and socio-economic challenges.

By combining agriculture, forestry, and governance, the programme supports climate resilience while improving livelihoods, and as climate impacts intensify across Nigeria, models like this highlight the importance of empowering local communities as active partners in conservation and sustainable development.

(NAN)