By Nathan Yohanna
ABUJA, October 10, 2026 — Women in Bayelsa State are finding a renewed opportunity to make their voices heard as environmental campaigners turn attention to the growing impact of forest degradation, oil pollution and restricted access to natural resources on their livelihoods.
The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, organised a two-day community engagement in Apoi, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, to promote ecosystem conservation and restoration.
The engagement brought together residents and community leaders from Apoi, Gbanraun and Kokolo Ama, the three communities that own the Apoi Creek Forest Reserve, a globally recognised wetland ecosystem that supports local livelihoods and provides habitat for the critically endangered Niger Delta Red Colobus monkey.
The first day featured a community dialogue, while the second focused on training women on environmental protection, livelihoods and issues surrounding the conservation project.
For women who depend on fishing, farming and forest products for food and income, the engagement provided an opportunity to explain how restricted access to the reserve, oil pollution and declining biodiversity have affected their daily lives.
Speaking during the campaign, Cadmus Atake-Enade said the organisers were gathering firsthand accounts of the challenges residents face and the effects of environmental degradation on their health, communities and livelihoods.
He explained that the discussions had generated valuable information about residents’ interests in the forest, the benefits they derive from it and the difficulties they encounter.
According to him, the initiative aims to amplify community voices and advocate for forest protection while drawing attention to the effects of environmental damage on people’s lives.
The initiative forms part of the UNDP-supported project, Accelerating Nature and Climate Action to Advance Nigeria’s Net Zero and “30×30” Targets, under the Global Net Zero Nature Positive Accelerator Integrated Programme, funded by the Global Environment Facility.
The project seeks to strengthen institutions and encourage investments that support ecosystem conservation, restoration, community participation and clean-energy development in Nigeria.
Community leaders and residents, including Chief Kurobo Don Jacob, Ebidaghe Kemela, Stella Oyege and Chief Ebikeseye Bipeledei, welcomed the engagement and praised the resource persons for sharing practical environmental knowledge.
Chief Bipeledei described the presentations as powerful and said participants had learned important lessons about protecting their environment, preserving their heritage and turning natural resources into benefits for their communities.
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He also expressed readiness to share the lessons with others, emphasising the importance of ensuring that future generations benefit from a protected environment.
The campaign offers a promising opportunity for women and other residents to move beyond expressing their concerns and participate more actively in conversations about the future of their forest.
For communities whose food, income and cultural identity are closely connected to the Apoi Creek Forest Reserve, the next crucial step will be ensuring that their concerns translate into meaningful action, sustainable livelihoods and stronger community involvement in conservation decisions.
