Social Assessment for Protected and Conserved Areas (SAPA) at Amurum Forest Reserve

The Social Assessment for Protected and Conserved Areas (SAPA) is a social assessment focused on the social impacts (both positive and Negative impacts) of a Protected Area on the livelihood and well-being of the local people (surrounding communities). The process of the assessment includes a series of community meetings (two meetings per community) and two stakeholders’ workshops. Between November 2021 and February 2022, SCERA carried out a SAPA in three communities (Laminga, Zarazong and Kerker Communities), surrounding Amurum Forest Reserve, Jos East, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. The assessment involved a series of meetings and workshops. The first community meetings gave the communities the opportunity to name both the positive and negative impacts they have experienced as a result of the presence of the protected area (Amurum Forest Reserve). This was followed by a stakeholders’ workshop to enlighten community representatives and other stakeholders on the SAPA process. They were also presented with the outcome of the first community meetings. A questionnaire survey was also carried out to give more people within the communities the opportunity to also contribute their opinion. After which the second community meetings were held to in each community to validate the collective results from both the first community meetings and the questionnaire surveys. A final workshop also gave the communities the opportunity to proffer solutions on how to reduce the negative impact of the protected area. The SAPA was facilitated by Dr. Soladoye Iwajomo, Department of Zoology, Lagos State University, Lagos Nigeria. Co-facilitators include Dr. Longtong Turshak, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria; Mr. Josiah Ibrahim, A. P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI), Jos East, Nigeria; Miss Fatima Ramzy, Eden Creation Care Initiative, Jos Nigeria and Mrs. Azumi Iron, SCERA. Also in Attendance at the stakeholders’ workshops were representatives of Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF; Dr. Joseph Onoja, Technical Director) and Leventis Foundation.