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Annual Report 2012 (October 2012)

The past year has seen further growth of the Project, we are now celebrating the 10th Aniversery since the first expedition to the montane forests of Nigeria, which led to the formation of the Nigerian Montane Forest Project.
We are very happy to welcome Tasso Leventis as our Patron and the sad loss of good friend and prominent conservationist. Professor Emmanuel Obot , Executive Director of The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).
This year we have gained NGO status this year under the name Montane Forest Conservation Initiative, which will be a help to the Project.
A highlight for the UC contingent of the NMFP was meeting His Excellency, Mr Amb Ayo Olukanni, The Nigerian High Commissioner for Australia when he visited Christchurch in June. A personal highlight was my three day visit to Leinde Fadale forest with Alex Knight, part of his survey looking for chimpanzee faeces in Taraba State forests.
-Hazel Chapman, Director, Nigerian Montane Forest Project.
Read the full Annual Report 2012 (PDF, 6MB)

Collaborating with Oxford (April 2012)

The NMFP is now collaborating with William Hawthorn of Oxford University in the Rapid Botanical Survey initiative. Through this collaboration we should have all our tree species named at last ~ and species new to science~ recognised.
We will send herbarium specimens to Oxford and also as many useful digital images of plants and plant parts as possible. http://www.plants.ox.ac.uk/ plants/staff/WillHawthorne.aspx

NGO Status Approved (March 2012)

We are officially recorded as the Montane Forest Conservation Initiative Nigeria. Having NGO status will make us eligible for funding we could not access before. Thanks Kennedy (especially) for all the work you did in organising this.

Annual Report 2011

2011 has been an extraordinary year, and has had both its highs and its lows.
Download the 2011 Annual Report (PDF 1.0 MB) to find out about all that has been achieved this year by the members of the Project.

Weather Station Data

The British High Commission in Nigeria through the European Union 'Low Carbon High Growth Strategic Programme Fund' has funded the construction of automated weather station for the Nigerian Montane Forest Project. Thanks also to DHL Nigeria for logistical support. Data available includes temperature, relative humidity and precipitation.
View weather station graphs and data

Why Does UC Support Nigerian Forests?

Nigerian montane forests (forests above +/-1500 m) are globally important because they represent one of the most threatened habitats in Africa. They are satellite populations of many species of plants and animals restricted to African mountains and harbour over 24 IUCN endangered tree species, are rich in wildlife, especially primates, and are an Important Bird Area.

Ngel Nyaki forest is an impressive stand of rare dry type montane to sub-montane forest and is the only forest of its type left on the heavily populated Mambilla plateau. Ngel Nyaki is home to a population of the rare and endangered Nigerian chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes subsp. villerosus and other primates including Putty-nosed, Mona and Tantalus monkeys. Birds such as turacos, the Cameroon olive pigeon, double toothed barbet and green bulbul are common. This forest is rich in biodiversity value and under threat.

Immense pressure is being put on this forest ecosystem by Nigeria’s burgeoning population. Unless immediate action is taken animal populations will be hunted to extinction and the forests replaced by subsistence farming.

The Nigerian Montane Forest Project’s mission is to promote national and international commitment to the conservation of Nigeria’s montane forests by inspiring excellence in research by postgraduate students and empowering local communities through employment and education.

Biodiversity at Ngel Nyaki

We are currently creating a list of species from the local area. Currently online are butterflies, fish, reptiles and amphibians. The list will continue to grow as species are identified.

Annual Reports

• NMFP Annual Report 2010 (2.3MB PDF)
• NMFP Annual Report 2009 (1.5MB PDF)
• NMFP Annual Report 2008 (1.5MB PDF)
• NMFP Annual Report 2007 (750KB PDF)
• NMFP Annual Report 2006 (1.2MB PDF)

Conference Posters

•  Habitat Influence on Territorial and Mate-guarding Calls of the Yellow-breasted Boubou (Laniarius atroflavus) (1.7MB PDF)
• The effects of forest edges on dung beetle communities in a tropical montane forest (400KB PDF)
• Montane forest fragmentation and its effect on tree and diurnal frugivore composition in North East Nigeria (200KB PDF)
• The botany of Tchabal Mbabo - A contribution towards the Nigerian / Cameroon Transboundary initiative (280KB PDF)

The NMFP fieldstation is situated on the edge of Ngel Nyaki
Forest Reserve, forty minutes walk from Yelwa village.