Schools Forest and Tree Heritage Park project, IITA Forest Unit, Nigeria
The Schools Forest and Tree Heritage Park project is developing a small area of protected rainforest in southwest Nigeria for environmental education and the conservation of threatened trees. The site is part of a 360-hectare forest reserve within the campus of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria. The reserve and the project are managed by the IITA Forest Unit. A former agroforestry arboretum, approximately 6 hectares in extent, is being renovated as a collection of Nigeria’s most endangered trees, such as West African boxwood (Nauclea diderrichii), African oak (Afzelia africana), and mahoganies (Entandrophragma spp.), while the surrounding forest will provide opportunities for school children and families to explore and enjoy the natural world. Only a small area of the forest adjoining to the arboretum will be utilized for the trails, outdoor classroom and other facilities so that disturbance to wildlife is minimized.
Grants given:
2015, 2016, 2017
