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Introduction

The Gbanraun and the Kokoloama Community Conservation Areas are ICCAs located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Covering 6.57 km² and 3.63 km² of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and mangroves, respectively, the areas were officially established in 2024 by the Gbanraun Kingdom and the Kokoloama Community, and are home to approximately 5,100 and 3,000 people each. These ICCAs represent a significant step in grassroots environmental stewardship aimed at safeguarding one of the world’s most endangered primates, the Niger Delta Red Colobus Monkey.

Origin and History

The roots of the Gbanraun and Kokoloama Community Conservation Areas trace back to 1993, when the Niger Delta Red Colobus Monkey (Piliocolobus epieni), known locally as epieni, was rediscovered during a biodiversity survey led by C. Bruce Powell. This critically endangered monkey, endemic to a narrow range of about 1,500 km² in the central Niger Delta, has faced growing threats from logging, hunting, and oil exploration.

Efforts to secure government protection after a 2013 survey by the SW/Niger Delta Forest Project did not result in formal action. This setback prompted a shift toward community-led conservation efforts, leading to the establishment of the Apoi Community Conservation Area in 2021, which expanded to Gbanraun and Kokoloama communities in 2024.

Objectives

The ICCAs were established with three key objectives:

1. Supporting sustainable livelihoods – Ensuring conservation efforts align with community well-being.
2. Maintaining and enhancing natural resources – Protecting forests, mangroves, and fisheries.
3. Biodiversity conservation – Safeguarding the Niger Delta Red Colobus Monkey and other threatened species.

The overarching goal is to expand suitable habitat and secure the long-term survival of one of the last remaining significant populations of this endemic primate.

Management and Governance

The local communities manage the ICCAs through their community-based organisation (CBO), the Gbanraun Community Conservation Association and the Kokoloama Community Conservation Association (registration in progress). The area is governed as sites with seasonal “no-take” zones, restricting resource extraction during certain times of the year to allow ecosystems to recover.

Resource Use and Community Benefits

Residents are permitted to sustainably harvest non-timber forest products (NTFPs), collect fishery resources such as periwinkles, and gather traditional housing materials. These activities support local livelihoods while reinforcing stewardship of the conservation area.

Looking ahead, the community envisions eco-tourism as a sustainable income source, contingent upon improvements in local security conditions.

Threats

Despite progress, the ICCAs face serious challenges:

• Hunting and logging continue to reduce forest cover and biodiversity.
• Oil exploration and spills severely degrade habitats, undermining both conservation and community health.
• Commercial artisanal logging has escalated in recent years, driving significant habitat loss before the area’s designation as a conservation zone.

Support Needs

As relatively new conservation areas, these ICCAs require sustained external support to strengthen protection efforts and ensure long-term effectiveness. Key needs include:

• Capacity building for community governance structures.
• Technical and financial assistance for conservation activities.
• Partnerships for self-determined development initiatives and sustainable livelihoods.