A year of growth: My journey as a Restoration Steward

By Anna Obi Akpe, 2024 Wetland Restoration Steward and member of Biodiversity Rescue Club (BRC) Nigeria.

In December 2023, my journey as a bio-rescuer took an extraordinary turn, as a life-changing opportunity presented itself. I was entrusted with the chance to lead a mangrove restoration project in the lush wetlands of Calabar, Nigeria, a venture made possible through the generous support of the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF).

Accepting this role was both terrifying and exhilarating. I grappled with the thought of embarking on this journey with no prior professional experience or training in such a significant role. 

I have always loved nature, which led me to  study plant and ecological studies at university. I come from a community blessed with natural resources of wildlife and wild places, including the Cross River National Park. Growing up, I have witnessed firsthand the rapid decline of our forest and wildlife. How do I know there’s been a decline of wildlife? Hunters complain to their bushmeat customers about their inability to sight or catch animals through wire snare traps. 

It dawned on me that this may be due to habitat loss and overhunting. The forests were impacted too as was our community road, as it was always being destroyed due to the heavy trucks that drove in and out of our community to convey timbers from our forest.

So, when my friend first told me about the Biodiversity Rescue Club (BRC) and its mission, I had every reason to join this youth initiative. I wanted to be a voice that interprets the melody of nature and defends the sweet balance of life it creates.

The BRC’s mission aligns perfectly with my resolve, and as expected, joining the BRC has connected me more to nature. Every young person I met on this journey inspired my self-development, especially the 28-year-old founder of the organization. I learned from every aspect from the framing of being a community-led project, the education outreach and activism. The BRC introduced me to the invaluable benefits of mangroves in our coastlines as  biodiversity hotspots and great tools for carbon sequestration, helping to mitigate climate change by acting as a significant carbon sink. 

Most interestingly, I had the opportunity to lead the team at some point, but I never imagined I would champion a global project so soon.

Fear and self-doubt crept in, but I was determined to embrace the challenge. I took a leap of faith. I accepted the Restoration Steward position to restore the lost glory of our coastline. 

Learning by doing 

My journey with the GLF and the Esierebom community was a steep learning curve. I quickly found myself immersed in a complex web of relationships and responsibilities. The GLF team always pushed me beyond my comfort zone, instilling in me the importance of punctuality, attention to detail, and effective communication. I learned to navigate the digital world, mastering videos and email etiquette, attending virtual meetings and granting interviews with journalists eager to learn about my efforts.

Anna during the monitoring and evaluation of planted seedlings. Photo: BRC Media 

With each interview, I felt a swell of anxiety. Authenticity, I learned,  was the watchword – I didn’t have to present myself as what I was not. I stumbled through interviews, some went better than others, leaving me either relieved or devastated by how I had responded to questions. The journey of learning to articulate my thoughts was a constant battle. However, I  realized that true growth comes not from the moments of perfection but from facing and overcoming my weaknesses. Now, I can confidently say I am on my way to becoming my best self!

A year of transformation 

As Restoration Steward, I have had the privilege of attending workshops on public speaking, project management and leadership skills. These experiences have significantly boosted my confidence and empowered me to take on new challenges.

Anna attends the Landscape Leadership Camp in Kenya in September 2024. Photo: Zuhura Ahmad

In September 2024, I had the honor of attending the Landscape Leadership Camp and the GLF Africa Hybrid Conference: Regreening the African Horizon. There, I engaged in powerful discussions about Africa’s beauty and resources and how the continent can lead global restoration efforts despite the daunting challenges posed by the climate and biodiversity crises.

Landscape leaders during the field trip to Lari farm, Kenya. Photo: Eirini Sakellari

During GLF Africa, I shared space with passionate individuals dedicated to ensuring Africa’s landscapes thrive. The conference also fostered collaboration among local communities, Indigenous peoples, government officials and NGOs, uniting us in our commitment to solving shared environmental challenges.

One of the most exciting moments of this year was being invited to speak at the closing plenary of GLF Africa.  It was a dream come true! When I received the invitation, I was thrilled. This was my first big stage and I knew I had a chance to inspire millions of people with my message by sharing my project with the world. As I stepped onto the stage, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Despite my self-doubt, I delivered a heartfelt speech about my connection to water and wetland restoration.

Anna speaking during the closing plenary of the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) conference in September 2024 in Kenya.

I’m incredibly grateful to the GLF and CIFOR-ICRAF for giving me this opportunity to share my story on a global platform. It’s been a year of firsts, and this experience has been truly unforgettable.

As Sara Mancinelli, and the team at CIFOR-ICRAF said, “You were undoubtedly one of the stars of our event, and we are so proud of you and your incredible work.”

A community effort

The Esierebom community faced significant challenges, including deforestation, pollution, and habitat loss. Our project aimed to restore the degraded mangrove ecosystem, protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

Esierebom community after a town hall meeting in November 2024. Photo: BRC Media 

Working alongside the community has been the most rewarding aspect of this experience. I cherish the deep connections with the people of Esierebom, sharing their hopes, fears and dreams.

Capacity building initiative workshop with the theme “Women as Agents of Change” facilitated by the BRC partner organization Centre For Social Studies and Development, with Anna leading the Esierebom women. Photo: Peter Nsikak

Our achievements in 2024

GIS analysis of our restoration project area.

Our journey into mangrove restoration began with passion, hope and determination to make an impact. As students, we even invested our own resources to fund the Biodiversity Rescue Club’s mission, which enabled us to purchase our first 100 mangrove propagules. We planted these ourselves with no external funding, one seedling at a time. To be honored by the Global Landscapes Forum is truly humbling, considering how our work began. 

This reminds me of the words of Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

And here we are. Within the year, I and my restoration team have built trust and working relationships with the Esierebom community. Together, we have restored over two hectares of degraded mangrove ecosystem, nurtured and planted 3000 mangrove seedlings andconducted beach cleaning exercises to reduce plastic pollution. 

We hosted two stakeholder workshops and nine town hall meetings and trainings to ensure that the people understood why their restoration efforts matter and are are equipped to take over the project for the well-being of their environment.

Environmental education was also at the forefront of our restoration project. Within the year, we have established conservation education clubs in 15 new schools in addition to the existing 6 clubs in schools within and around the Esierebom community. We reached over 300 students and 125 pupils during our education conservation outreach themed “Catch Them Young to Take Sustainable Action for a Greener Future.”

As part of our outreach program, we distributed branded notebooks designed with eco-friendly messages for readers. This was aimed at engaging children with real-life challenges related to biodiversity loss and climate change and  encouraging positive behavior, inspiring critical thinking and provoking solutions to these pressing issues. 

Collage of the conservation education programs of the BRC. Photo: BRC Media

We also organized a conservation education film show aimed at inspiring a positive attitude from Indigenous community members towards their environment and biodiversity. Our target audience so far has been policymakers, women, youths and children. 

Collaged of the Esierebom community comprising women, youths, policymakers and children. Photo: BRC Media 

Restoration challenges

Our primary challenge was removing invasive species (Nypa palms) and coping with adverse weather conditions. The economic crisis in our country led to rising costs for transportation, communication and daily expenses. While we faced an uphill battle, we remained resilient.

Project team member planting mangrove seedlings. Photo: BRC Media 

Once again, I am grateful to the GLF team, the BRC team, and the entire Esierebom community for their unwavering support and guidance. This journey has transformed me, teaching me the importance of perseverance, resilience and the power of community.

Children and women during a town hall meeting and film show on the dangers of losing natural resources. Photo BRC 

While my tenure as a 2024 Wetland Restoration Steward is coming to an end, my commitment to the Esierebom project is just beginning.

As I reflect on our accomplishments, I’m filled with hope for the future. I’m eager to build on the experiences I have gained and continue to strengthen our bond with the community.

Photo grid of bio-rescuers planting one seedling at a time. Photo: The BRC

With additional funding, we are confident that we can improve local community livelihood and restore the Calabar coastal ecosystem in Nigeria, helping it thrive with mangroves and biodiversity for generations to come. Together, we will continue to work towards a sustainable planet, leaving it better than we found it.

We are bio-rescuers; we stand for sustainable action. Stand with us!