Afromontane Research Group
Summary
Since the early 2000s, the Afromontane Research Group has combined scientific research with education at tertiary and local community levels to conserve a rare Nigerian afromontane forest reserve. This work has enabled us to develop a model for long-term sustainable management of forests involving local communities, which is applicable across the world.
Nigerian Montane Forest Project in the Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve
The Nigerian Montane Forest Project (NMFP) has made its base at Ngel Nyaki forest, and has just built a field station at the forest edge.
Ngel Nyaki is an impressive stand of montane/sub-montane forest, between 1400–1600 metres elevation. It is the most plant species-rich montane forest in Nigeria, with over 24 endangered plant species, including Entandrophragma angolense, Lovoa trichilioides, Milletia conraui, Pouteria altissima and Prunus africana.
It is home to the endangered Nigerian chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes subsp. villerosus, and other primates including putty nosed (Cercopithecus nicitans), Mona (Cercopithecus mona) and Tantalus (Cercopithecus aethiops) monkeys. It is also an Important Bird Area recognised by Birdlife International.
The forest can be reached on foot from Yelwa village and is the only forest of its type left on the heavily populated Mambilla Plateau. Ngel Nyaki is under severe pressure from subsistence farmers infiltrating the reserve, cattle grazing within and along the reserve edge, burning and hunting.