Conservation education training manual for coastal communities in Niger Delta, Nigeria

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Date
2021
Authors
Oluwarore, K.
Akpan, S.
Sogbanmu, T. O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
One Health and Development Initiative
Abstract
Description
The Niger-Delta region of Nigeria is blessed with a diverse marine ecosystem that is inhabited by several coastal communities and settlements. However, the conservation and sustainability of these marine ecosystems and their species is highly under threat due to debilitating activities such as excessive hunting/poaching of aquatic wildlife (including threatened species) for consumption and gam; e overfishing; and widespread pollution from indiscriminate dumping of household and industrial wastes, and crude oil-drilling activities. This has led to diminishing aquatic life, increasing eutrophication, and poor livelihood of resident coastal communities. We have identified that one of the main causes of these poor conservation issues and practices is the communities’ underlying lack of knowledge and understanding of the need for and impact of conservation and environmental protection. This creates the need for strategic interventions that will empower residents of coastal communities with information on how to sustainably care for their coastal environments while promoting community-owned local actio. n Therefore, this Conservation Education Manual has been duly developed to contribute to this goal. The Conservation Education Training Manual for Coastal Communities in Niger - Delta, Nigeria is an educational tool that was developed from key evidence-based research findings on the most common locally relevant ocean conservation and environmental issues of th e target coastal communities. It is presented as a structured guide to promote and disseminate relevant information and education to coastal communities. The training manual has been designed in a way that makes it adaptable to issues of different coastal communities and can be utilized even considering potentially emerging relevant conservation/environmental issues or insights while inspiring community action. It is freely available as an open- resource guide to be utilized by any trainer/teacher/volunteer who wishes to provide community-based education on ocean conservation and environmental management. To Trainers - you are encouraged to follow the instructions in the training manual, while also listening to the opinions of the communities you teach. This will help you get the best teaching (and learning) experience and make the needed impact. We hope that the implementation of this conservation manual will be a driving force in promoting integrated health and sustainability of humans, animals, land, and ocean environment – the One Health we seek to achieve for all. Dr. Kikiope Oluwarore-Isedowo (DVM, MSc) Executive Director; One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI)
Keywords
Citation
45. Oluwarore, K., Akpan, S. and Sogbanmu, T. O. (2021). Conservation education training manual for coastal communities in Niger Delta, Nigeria. 33pp.