At this year’s COP 16 in Colombia, nations from around the world will gather once again to discuss and commit to protecting the planet’s biodiversity. One of the central focuses of this meeting is the global biodiversity framework, a plan to halt the loss of biodiversity and their habitats by 2030. Countries are promising new measures to conserve wildlife, recognizing that we are at a critical point in our efforts to save nature.
A COP 16 flier © undp.org
West Africa, a biodiversity hotspot, is one of the regions that require urgent attention. Its rich landscapes house an incredible variety of species, many of which are under threat. Among them are small mammals such as bats, pangolins, and rodents which are often overlooked in conservation discussions, yet play important roles in their ecosystems.
Bats, in particular, help control insect populations and disperse seeds, contributing to the growth and regeneration of forests. Without these species, ecosystems would face imbalances that could lead to further habitat degradation. Protecting these creatures is, therefore, not just about saving individual species but about preserving the larger ecological systems they support.
SMACON at COP 16: Amplifying Conservation Efforts
The Small Mammals Conservation Organisation (SMACON) is one of the organizations actively working to protect small mammals and their habitats in West Africa. We are dedicated to the conservation of these often-overlooked species, working to safeguard their habitats and ensure their survival.
This year, SMACON’s Co-Executive Director, Iroro Tanshi, is attending and speaking at a side event at COP 16 in Colombia. This side event will focus on the role of field station networks in implementing science-based inclusive conservation, and Iroro’s participation is a significant step in advancing awareness about conservation of small mammals in West Africa. Iroro’s participation at COP 16 has been made possible through support from the Campaign for Nature and UCLA's Congo Basin Institute.
Importance of Field Stations in Conservation
Field stations are more than just infrastructure in the wild, they are relevant for biodiversity science and ultimately conservation. Field stations serve as hubs for research, long-term ecological monitoring and conservation planning. They provide a base for scientists to observe wildlife in their natural habitats, collect valuable data, and test conservation strategies allowing them to be deployed at scale. In many cases, field stations, by providing a steady base of operations, become the epicenters of scientific discovery and help ensure that conservation efforts are grounded in solid science.
Field stations do more than just support research. They provide a base for training scientists, engaging local communities, and coordinating conservation activities. Without such infrastructure, efforts to protect biodiversity become less effective because researchers lack the data and logistical support needed for large-scale conservation projects. Field stations also act as centers for environmental education and awareness, fostering collaboration between scientists, governments, and local communities.
SMACON’s Field Stations
SMACON is playing a key role in building such infrastructure in Nigeria. In collaboration with funding partners, government and local community, SMACON is developing two field stations: one in Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) and another in Obudu Plateau. These stations will enhance the organization's capacity to conduct long-term ecological monitoring and research on small mammals and their habitat.
At Afi Mountain, SMACON is collaborating with the state government to establish a field camp that will act as a Fire Command Center, a Conservation Coordination Center, and a Research Base Station. This station will be instrumental in monitoring the effects of wildfires, which are a major threat to the habitats of endangered species like bats. It will also serve as a coordination hub for conservation activities in the Wildlife Sanctuary.
Meanwhile, at Obudu Plateau, construction is underway for a field lab. This facility will include a 25 person capacity residential area, teaching spaces, and labs (wet and dry) for various types of research, including acoustic and biomechanical studies. The lab will also house a vivarium for studying live specimens and will provide the infrastructure needed for advanced conservation research. The completion of this lab will mark a significant milestone in SMACON’s vision of protecting small mammals and their habitat through evidence-based conservation.
SMACON's Anape Natural Science Research Station Signpost
Field stations like these being developed at Afi Mountain and Obudu Plateau are supported by our funding partners and in turn help support research like Iroro's funded postdoctoral research at the University of Washington, funded by the Washington Research Foundation.
It is pertinent to note that these infrastructures will also be meaningful in our West Africa Mammal Fellowship program which is West Africa Mammal Partnership (WAMP’s) capacity building arm that’s raising the next generation of in-country conservation scientists. The capacity building program is hands-on and includes a two-week intensive field course which we believe will be strengthened when our field stations are completed.
Comments