The  Okomu National Park sits at the heart of the Okomu Forest Reserve, one of Nigeria's most biodiverse and ecologically significant areas. The reserve in Edo State is a critical habitat for endangered species, such as the white-throated monkey and forest elephants,

Edo state is Nigeria’s leading producer of oil palm. It is estimated that there are 16,000 hectares of oil palm in the landscape. Oil palm plantations, predominantly operated by the Okomu Oil Palm company, represent 16% (9,300 hectares) of land use.  Agriculture is the major economic activity of communities in the reserve, with cocoa production having the highest net value.  The growth of cocoa and oil palm plantations, along with logging and poaching, have led to significant deforestation. However, there is significant potential to regain valuable ecosystem function as there is still 42% forest cover in the Okomu Forest reserve.  

NISCOPS - Creating positive impact for people, planet and progress 

National Initiative for Sustainable and Climate Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) - a partnership between IDH and Solidaridad - brings together key stakeholders to improve land use, create better incomes and promote inclusive markets.

Improving land use

Climate change threatens smallholder incomes with extreme weather events, erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures affecting yields, oil quality and crude palm oil prices.  However, the Okomu reserve sequesters a significant amount of carbon, contributing to global climate change mitigation.  

Agricultural expansion has been the primary driver of deforestation in the landscape. Demarcation of communities/settlements in the reserve, and the national park, is underway to help manage land use and cut deforestation. 

In 2024, the Okomu Management Plan was launched. Whilst NISCOPS focuses predominantly on palm oil produced, the solutions based, landscape approach, aims to impact the production of more than one agricultural commodity.  The Plan aims to bring 20,000 hectares of agricultural land under sustainable land management practices. 

Improving livelihoods

The Okomu Outgrower scheme, led by the Okomu Oil Palm company, trains smallholder farmers in modern and oil palm best practices. It also provides access to farm services and finance. By 2025 over a billion Naira (about 623K EUR) worth of revenue was generated by smallholders through the scheme.

Smallholders now supply 20% of the Okomu Oil Palm company’s Fresh Fruit Bunches.The company plans to integrate at least 5000 oil palm smallholder farmers into their supply chain and support them to become RSPO certified. 

Empowering women and youth 

The Okomu Outgrower Scheme aims to reach 7,500 smallholder farmers, of which 15% are expected to be women and 10% young people. The Scheme aims to diversidy incomes outside of oil palm production. A beekeeping enterprise is helping to provide a guaranteed market for trained and potential honeybee farmers.