IITA Forest Archives

The IITA Forest Center maintains a rigorous system of nature conservation in its parks and forest.

IITA celebrates World Environment Day

To celebrate this year’s World Environment Day, the CGIAR-IITA Forest Center, Corporate Services Directorate, and Communication Office organized a virtual event on 5 June as part of activities to create awareness and action for protecting the environment. The theme for this year’s event, which is celebrated annually, was “Time for Nature” to emphasize the importance…

IITA promotes natural solutions during International Day of Biodiversity

On 22 May, CGIAR-IITA joined the global community to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), an annual observance to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. In line with this year’s theme, “Our solutions are in Nature”, the Institute hosted a semi-virtual event to highlight the importance of biodiversity and plants to human…

Solutions in nature: promoting the efficacy of indigenous medicinal plants

Over the centuries, earth’s biological diversity has played a crucial role in the development and sustenance of our civilization. From energy to food and infrastructure to medicine, humans have relied on nature for existence. Sadly though, we have lost so much of our biodiversity through unsustainable human activities, leading to severe consequences, including challenges of…

Biodiversity focus: IITA-Ibadan Campus is a hotspot for bird conservation

By supporting about 270 different species of birds, the 1000-ha IITA Campus in Ibadan remains one of Nigeria’s hotspots for bird conservation. The campus is blessed with different kinds of habitats, including forest, wetland, farmland, and residential areas. “This huge diversity of birds is attributable to the different kinds of habitats found within the campus,”…

Biodiversity focus: The Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum)

The Straw-colored fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) is a rapidly declining mammal and has been classified as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Despite being an adaptable species, widespread deforestation and hunting for food and medicinal uses are the main causes of declining populations. Mainly found south of the…

Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata, as it scans for prey and predator during the IBC meeting.

IITA Forest Unit hosts the first Ibadan Bird Club Meeting in 2019

The first meeting of the Ibadan Bird Club (IBC) in 2019 was held at IITA Ibadan on 26 January. The event attracted 36 members including three children known as the IBC Juniors and nine beginners. In his opening remarks, IBC Coordinator Adewale Awoyemi welcomed members and introduced them to the basics of bird watching, especially…