State of Africa’s birds
Understanding how people depend on biodiversity The conservation of biodiversity is inextricably linked to the reduction of poverty in Africa. Effective management of biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources calls for understanding how people depend on biodiversity.
RESPONSE: Conserving biodiversity
Restoring important wetlands to conserve biodiversity and safeguard ecosystem services tinyurl.com/casestudy36 The Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the BirdLife Partner in Nigeria, is assisting with the restoration of the Hadejia-Nguru wetland in northern Nigeria. Through community participation, the ecosystem restoration project seeks to control invasive alien Typha from the wetlands complex which support well over 10,000 people in eight surrounding villages, one of the most important overwintering sites for Palearctic migratory water birds in West Africa. As a result, bird populations have increased as well as the fish yield from artisanal fisheries upon which local communities depend on for their livelihoods. These tangible benefits in terms of income from sustainable fisheries will hopefully inspire other communities in the region to establish similar schemes.
Typha clearance in the Hadejia-Nguru wetland in Nigeria benefits migratory birds, such as Near Threatened Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, and local communities (photos: Jonathan Barnard Simay GĂĄbor/MME).
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