Reuniting roots: honoring pioneers and celebrating progress at IITA Forest Center

28 October 2024

IITA Forest Center stands proudly today as a leading conservation center in Nigeria. The journey began in 2010 as the IITA-Leventis Forest Project under the leadership of desert ecologist Dr John Peacock, who, out of his love for trees, sought to develop the previous conservation work of other scientists and enthusiasts like Dr David Ladipo and Prof. Shiiwua Manu, who had taken stock of the diversity of birds, butterflies, trees, and other flora and fauna of the IITA Forest Reserve in Ibadan.

His primal desire then was to restore degraded areas on the east bank of the IITA main lake. Now covering about 12 hectares, this mini forest holds over 80 native tree species averaging 20 m in height. On 10 October, Peacock visited after 14 years of his selfless and meritorious service to biodiversity conservation at IITA Forest Center. During an emotional and exciting time, IITA Forest Center staff were pleased to showcase milestones and progress following Peacock's laid down legacies at IITA Forest Center.

In a heartwarming twist, Prof. Ladipo joined Dr Peacock in this celebratory reception, marking a pleasant reunion of IITA Forest Center's founders with the current enthusiastic and passionate staff of IITA Forest Center. Peacock, in the company of IITA Forest Center staff, after touring the IITA Forest facilities, planted Pterygota bequaertii by the IITA Main Lake.

Hilde Koper-Limbourg, IITA Deputy Director General of Corporate Services, and the "forest fathers" installed new tree labels by existing trees at the IITA Forest Center's Tree Heritage Park (THP) to replace old ones.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and ArbNet funded the tree labels, which Peter Kulakow, IITA Cassava Breeder and Geneticist, shipped in. The tree labels contain vital information about each tree, including a scannable QRcode that links viewers to the IITA Forest Center website for more information about each tree. The event coincided with the phasing out of the BGCI Project. Hence, IITA Forest Center took the opportunity to invite and train one BGCI partner from Benin Republic to replicate the same label technology for other tree-planting projects.

Peacock, extremely impressed by the progressive work of the IITA Forest Center team, said, "I am so proud and extremely overwhelmed with what I see here today. In 14 years, you haven't planted a tree; you have planted a forest. If it could be done here, it could be done all over Nigeria." He added that one way we could all contribute to carbon sequestration and combat climate change is to plant trees.

In a RadioIITA interview, Dr Peacock passionately shared his thoughts on the issues of biodiversity conservation in Nigeria. He said, "Our planet is on a precipice. I've learned in the past few days that it is possible to reforest, not just Nigeria, but the whole of Africa, through the work of IITA Forest Center and even eradicate evasive species." He continued, "This small group of people at IITA Forest Center, with minimal funding, are making huge impacts in the conservation space. Their work is a beacon of hope, and the information here could be disseminated widely to people around the world." He stressed the need for other organizations and donors to invest in biodiversity conservation through the IITA Forest Center, inspiring the audience with the potential for positive change.

In closing, Koper-Limbourg took a moment to applaud all IITA Forest Center staff, led by the current Head of the Center, Adewale Awoyemi. She then presented Dr Peacock with a well-deserved award for being the Pioneer Leader of the IITA Forest Center from 2010 - 2012 in recognition of his meritorious and invaluable contribution to forest conservation in Nigeria. This recognition and appreciation resonated with the audience, fostering respect and admiration for Dr Peacock's dedication and service.

Contributed by Folake Oduntan

Related stories:https://www.iita.org/news-item/conservation-africas-forest-offers-great-benefits/

https://www.iita.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/The-Bulletin-8-12-November-2010-No.-2042.pdf

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