Oliver Enuoh
Yale University
School of Forestry and Environmental Studies / Nigeria
Research Topic: The Impact of Community Development Programs (as conservation strategy) on Biodiversity Conservation Among Support Zone Communities of Cross River National Park

I come from Old Ekuri Community, of Akamkpa Local Government Area, of Cross River State, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have a 1986 B.Sc (Hons) degree in Geography and Regional Planning/Education of the University of Calabar, Nigeria. I served in the public service of Cross River State of Nigeria as a Youth Development Officer (1986 - 1988); Board Member, Cross River Estates Limited (1988 - 1990); Commissioner 111, Cross River State Secondary Education Board (1992 - 1994); Supervisor for Education, Akamkpa Local Government Council of Cross River State (1994 - 1996).

In the Non-Government sector, I founded the Ekuri Community Rainforest Conservation Project (popularly known as Ekuri Initiative) in 1990, and headed it on part-time basis from 1990 - 1995. In 1996 (after leaving Akamkpa Local Government Council), I decided to take up a full time appointment as Project Coordinator of the Organization. I attracted funding for the Organization from then ODA (now DFID) in 1994; The Ford Foundation (1996 -1999); Forest Management Foundation, London (1997); Federal Environmental Protection Agency (World Bank assisted) in 1997; and several local donors in Nigeria such as Eagle Cement Company, Crush Rock Industries Limited, etc.

In February 2004, the Ekuri Initiative was among 26 globally leading Community-based Biodiversity Conservation Projects that won International Awards from the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (Equator Initiative) at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In July 2004, I became a Ford Foundation International Fellow, after winning a scholarship to pursue a Master's program in Environmental Management at Yale University. My expected year of graduation is June 2006.