Overview

The Sakponba Forest Reserve lies within the tropical rainforest. Located in Edo State, the landscape covers an area of 50,996 hectares. The reserve is an important producer of palm oil, cocoa, and cassava.

Farmland accounts for 62% (3313 hectares) of the reserve, and oil palm production represents 16% (864 hectares) of the landscape. Large plantations run by companies including Presco Nigeria Limited and Barnsley Nigeria dominate oil palm production.

The reserve has suffered severe deforestation and degradation since the mid-1980s. Illegal logging and the expansion of agricultural activities and oil palm concessions have driven land use changes. The speed of land conversion also heightens the risk posed by climate change. Between 1984 to 2024, there was a significant reduction in forest cover from 84% (451 hectares) to just 17.4% (92.7 hectares). 

NISCOPS - Creating positive impact for people, planet and progress

The National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) is a partnership between IDH and Solidaridad. NISCOPS is bringing together key stakeholders to support smallholders to implement climate-smart agriculture.

Land ownership rights are a major cause of conflict in the Sakponba landscape. One of NISCOPS' key roles is to mediate between the local communities, the authorities, and private companies to create a coalition which will put community inclusion at the heart of sustainable production.

Climate Change and deforestation  

Between 1984 to 2024 farmland and oil palm plantations grew substantially in the landscape. In addition, climate change threatens smallholder livelihoods with extreme weather events, erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures affecting yields, oil quality, and crude palm oil prices. However, the Sakponba forest offers significant climate mitigation potential, reinforcing the need for reforestation and carbon credit opportunities.

 Illegal logging continues to threaten biodiversity, weaken carbon sequestration capacity, and accelerate land degradation. However, the presence of regenerating forests suggests that, with proper conservation measures, the landscape can regain its ecological and carbon storage function.

Sustainable land management

Oil palm concessions in Sakponba started in 2019 under the Edo State Oil Palm Program (ESOPP). Following this, severely degraded portions of the reserve were degazetted.  Efforts to protect High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Sink (HCS) areas have been undermined by encroachment from community members and external actors, including ‘land grabbing’ by housing developers.  The government aims to protect the remaining HCV and HCS areas in the oil palm concessions through the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) compliance measures.

In the landscape, 60% of farmland (19,879.2 hectares) is actively used for cultivating key crops such as cassava (56.99%), yam (30.65%), and maize (6.99%). These crops are central to food security for the 58,000 residents living in the reserve.

Through NISCOPS, a coalition of landscape partners, will help educate smallholder farmers on modern, climate smart farming practices, particularly for key commercial and food crops such as palm oil and cassava.

Improving livelihoods

Agricultural farming is the main occupation for local communities with 94% of households primarily engaged in farming. Farming is a largely male-dominated activity. Smallholder farmers manage on average 3.95 hectares per household. Oil palm production represents just 1.59% (837.5 tons/year) of local farming. 

In addition to training in modern farming techniques, NISCOPs aims to provide smallholders with access to finance and community-based agricultural insurance models. A smallholder inclusive business program is also being developed with oil palm companies in the landscape. Skills training will be provided in beekeeping, craft production, trade, and small-scale business development, enhancing economic diversification and community resilience.

Empowering women and youth

There are almost 20,000 women in the reserve (34% of the population) who are predominantly involved in non-farming activities. Women work in Non-Forest Timber Forest Production (NFTP) collection, such as fluted pumpkin leaves (245.61 tons/year) and bush mango (8.19 tons/year), as well as small scale oil palm processing and craft activities.

The decline in forest canopy cover reduces NTFP activities.  Education is also a barrier to women and youth. A significant portion of the local community has either primary, or no formal education whatsoever, with young people primarily employed as farm laborers.

To address these challenges, NISCOPS is working with community leaders to promote the formation of cooperatives and self-help groups. In addition, women and young people will be invited to participate in inclusive business programs and skills training.

Progress reporting on landscape targets

The Sakponba Landscape is a new landscape for IDH. We are developing baselines to measure progress against the three NISCOPS global impact areas: Improved Land Use, Better Incomes and Inclusive Markets.

 A full socioeconomic study of the landscape has been completed, and a program of work is being finalised with our partners.

Support the Sakponba Forest Reserve

 With a collaborative and inclusive approach, the Sakponba landscape could become a benchmark for sustainable development. Oil palm holds economic potential, with yields possibly reaching 10-15 tons/ha using high-yielding varieties. There are also opportunities to finance smallholder oil palm lots, as well as programs to promote sustainable smallholder practices and gender inclusivity. Support is also needed to help conserve the River Jameson as a source of livelihood (fishing), marine biodiversity, and the ecotourism potential it holds.

Please get in touch with our Nigerian team to find out more about opportunities to support this unique landscape.