Gashaka Gumti National Park

Gashaka Gumti National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location	Nigeria
Coordinates	07°21′00″N 11°31′12″E
Area	6402 km2
Established	1991

Gashaka-Gumti National Park (GGNP) is a national park in Nigeria, It was gazetted from two game reserves in 1991 and is Nigeria's largest national park. It is located in the eastern provinces of Taraba and Adamawa to the border with Cameroon. The total area covers about 6,402 km², much of the northern GGNP is savannah grassland, while the southern GGNP sector of the park has a rugged terrain characterized by very mountainous, steep slopes as well as deep valleys and gorges, and is home to montane forests. Altitude ranges from ranging from about 457 metres (1,499 ft) in the northern flatter corner of the park, up to 2,419 metres (7,936 ft) at Chappal Waddi, Nigeria's highest mountain in the park's southern sections. It is an important water catchment area for the Benue River. There is abundant river flow even during the markedly dry season. Enclaves for local Fulani pastoralists exist within the park boundary that allow for farming and grazing.

Park Creation

The Gashaka Gumti region faced rampant hunting, putting immense pressure on its rich biodiversity. Recognizing the escalating threat, the Government of Northern Nigeria commissioned a land systems survey in 1966. This study, conducted by Mike Bawden and Paul Tuley, highlighted the urgent need to protect the watersheds of the forested mountains that supplied the River Taraba.

In 1969, a wildlife expert from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recommended the creation of a game reserve or national park to safeguard local wildlife resources. These reports coincided with a period when Nigeria, having recently gained independence, prioritized the management of its natural resources, allocating significant financial resources to conservation programs.

In 1972, the Government of the North-East State collaborated with local governments and traditional chiefs of Ganye and Gashaka Gumti divisions to establish three game sanctuaries—Serti, Gashaka, and Gumti. The ban on hunting within these sanctuaries marked a crucial step towards conservation.

As Nigeria's economy faltered in the early 1980s, budgets for conservation initiatives, including Gashaka Gumti, were slashed. Neglect ensued, affecting infrastructure, patrolling, and overall park management. The park faced a catastrophe in 1983–84 with the outbreak of pan-African rinderpest, leading to the decimation of ungulates and a surge in poaching.

In the late 1980s, the Department for International Development (DFID) extended a lifeline to the park, injecting funds for critical projects. Simultaneously, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) proposed to the Federal Government that Gashaka Gumti be designated a national park. Eleven main reasons were identified, ranging from the protection of watersheds to the development of ecotourism.

In 1991, Gashaka Gumti National Park was officially designated under new legislation. Managed by the NCF in partnership with the Gongola State Government’s Wildlife Unit, the project aimed to address various conservation challenges. Faith Ananze, an experienced manager, led the initiative, assembling a dedicated team of workers to embark on the revitalization of the park.

Fauna

The fauna of the national park is very diverse. 103 species of mammals have been recorded at censuses. Species include yellow-backed duiker, African golden cat (Profelis aurata), The African buffalo, the largest population in Nigeria of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is found within the boundaries of the national park. To protect the animals and the ecosystem, the Gashaka Primate Project was launched. Living in the national park are also the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), the klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus), the West African wild dog (Lycaon pictus manguensis), the hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), the world's largest antelope, the giant eland (Taurotragus Derbianus), the roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), the kob antelope (Kobus kob), the oribi (Ourebia ourebi), and the rare Adamawa mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) in larger stocks. There are also Chimpanzees (Pantrolodytes vellerous), Golden cat (Fellies Aurata) and giant Forest Hog (Hylochoreus meinertzageni). Predator animals sch as Lion (Panthera Leo), Leopard (Panthera Pardus) and Wild dog can also be found in the park.

The avian fauna is very rich and diverse, there are stocks are up 1 million birds estimated. The park is officially labelled as one of Africa's "Important Bird Areas" - and with more than 500 species found, and visiting bird watching enthusiasts are constantly adding new species to the list. The red faced lovebird is only found here and in the Central African Republic's Bamingui-Bangoran National Park and Biosphere Reserve .

Flora

In November 2002 an isolated population of the red sunbird bush, an ornate species of the acanthus family, was discovered in the 8 km² Leinde Fadale forest in the uplands adjacent to the park. The species occurs here at 1,600 to 1,670 m.a.s.l., and some 1,200 km from the nearest populations in the Afromontane archipelago. It has been suggested that the park boundary should be extended to protect the forest. There are various tree species in the park with different tree species growing in different sectors of the park. At Northen Gumti sector, there are tall trees such as Acacia spp, Afzelia Africana, Khaya Seneglensis, Daniella Oliverii, Isober linadoka and Vitellaria paradoxa. At the Gashaka, which is the Southern part of the park, vegetation is closely related to the Southern Guinea Savanna. The dominant tree species in the area include Triplochyton schleroxylon and Aubrvillea kerstingii Africana, Symphonia globulifera and Mallettia spp.

Conflicts

Gashaka Gumti National Park has faced significant challenges and conflicts, particularly stemming from illegal logging activities. These conflicts have resulted in the loss of lives among the park's Rangers and posed a serious threat to the conservation efforts in the region.

According to a 2019 report, illegal loggers have been responsible for the deaths of at least nine Rangers, with several others sustaining injuries over the past few years. The Conservator of the Park, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir, revealed that the deceased Rangers include Usman Yahya, Joshua Mamman, Adamu Hamman, Ajayi Peter, Hamman Njidda, Hamman Dikko, Zamani Teituly, Sunday Ali, and Yakubu Umaru. These tragic incidents are directly linked to the activities of loggers and the insecurity surrounding the park and its support zone communities.

The conflicts have primarily arisen due to the increased desperation for illegal logging of Rosewood (pterocarpus erinaceous), locally known as Madrid. The economic importance and abundance of this species were discovered between 2014 and 2015 in Gashaka Local Government Area (LGA) and around the national park, creating a serious security threat to the park's workers.

The Conservator, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir, highlighted the challenges faced by the park, including illegal logging, illegal grazing, high-level insecurity, poaching, and various other illegal human activities. The discovery of Rosewood in the region has led to sleepless nights for park managers and Rangers as they strive to protect the forest resources from desperate loggers.

Traditional leaders, such as the Lamdo Gashaka, Dr Zubairu Hammangabdo, emphasized the collective responsibility of conserving the national park. They pledged to mobilize their subjects to protect what is described as "the largest and most diverse conservation enclave in Nigeria." The leaders warned against illegal logging and poaching, stressing that the park is not only a pride for the people of Gashaka but for the entire Taraba State and Nigeria.

Efforts to address these conflicts involve commemorating World Rangers Day on the 31st of July each year, as designated by the International Ranger Federation (IRF). This day serves to honor the selfless service rendered by Rangers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty, highlighting the critical work they do in protecting the natural resources of the Gashaka Gumti National Park.

Human animal Conflict in Gashaka Gumti National Park

Human animal conflict is rampact in all settlements where man and animals share the same environment or where conservation areas share boundaries with human settlement. In the Gashaka Gumti Park, the communities in the environment experience the same conflict. There are about 25 communitiesis residing in the immediate sorroundinging of the park.