Distribution of fuel-efficient stoves, led by the heads of council's administrative and legislative arms of the LGA in Bakassi, Cross River State, January 2025. Photo ©FAO/David Tsokar

 Abuja - With one hand firmly gripping her crutches and the other supporting her visibly weakened right leg, 35-year-old Emilia Essien Etim from Akwa Obutong community gratefully accepts a fuel-efficient stove (FES) with the assistance of Mrs Inyang Henshaw, Head of Local Government Administration in Bakassi Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State. Emilia feels relieved, knowing she won't have to struggle as much to gather firewood for cooking. Stepping off the stage with this stove marks a significant turning point in her life.

“With my condition, I cannot go into the forest. I usually gather firewood around my immediate vicinity to cook at home, but it has become very difficult to find sufficient wood nearby. But now, I only need charcoal,” Emilia said as she securely strapped the stove to her back and headed home to Akwa Obutong.

Cross River State is home to one of Africa's most prosperous mangrove ecosystems. The coastal communities, primarily composed of fisherfolk, rely entirely on these rich natural resources for their livelihoods. Unfortunately, climate change has contributed to the declining coastlines, with human activities further exacerbating the situation, leading to depletion and degradation of the vital ecosystem.

Emilia is one of the 2 000 beneficiaries who received the FES in Cross River State, along with training, to reduce coastal communities' dependency on the mangrove ecosystems. This initiative aims to promote sustainable fishing, fuelwood, and timber harvesting, which are common for cooking and fish smoking, among other uses.

Impact on Communities

Chief Mrs. Henrietta Effa, the village head of Akai Effa village in Calabar Municipality, noted that the intervention is timely as it addresses the dual challenges faced by the community—the difficulty in accessing diverse fish species and the depleting forests caused by ecological changes and human activities.

“While most of the fish species have disappeared from the coastline within the communities, our fishermen travel long distances into the creeks and rivers to catch fish. Heavy logging is also ongoing, with many trees being cut down for timber. With this intervention, we are able to produce fish, have fuel-efficient stoves to dry the fish, and cook household meals. This means less strain on the forest resources,” said Chief Effa.

FAO-UKPACT Sustainable Mangrove Management and progress made

In 2023, FAO launched the "Integrated Management of Mangrove Ecosystem and Expansion of Social Protection for Fisheries and Forest Dependents" project to support five coastal LGAs in Cross River State: Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, and Odukpani. Funded by the UK’s FCDO through the UK-PACT programme, the initiative promotes sustainable mangrove management and climate resilience while reducing over-dependency on mangrove resources.

Building on the first phase of the project which focuses on alternative nature-based livelihoods in aquaculture, equipping 25 fishing-dependent communities with fish tanks, feeds, and juveniles to boost local fish production, the second phase distributed over 123.2 tons of fish feed, 50 processing ovens and 2 000 FES to 50 communities.

By fully enhancing the value chain within these communities, the initiative aims to decrease over-reliance on mangroves for fishing and fuelwood (unregulated artisanal fishing, the harvesting of fuelwood and timber for household use, particularly for cooking and fish smoking), financially empower women and youth in the communities, thereby ensuring long-term economic and environmental sustainability.