Iroro Tanshi won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize due to her ground-breaking efforts aimed at protecting the special ecosystem of the Cross River that is found in southern Nigeria.
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Fire Prevention Programs Help Communities Thrive
For years, farmers followed the custom of burning lands during the period from January to April when preparing them for cultivation. Iroro Tanshi Goldman Prize 2026, But now, thanks to Iroro Tanshi, the practice has been improved for those villages that are located near the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary.
Villagers receive alerts about the possible threats of fires according to temperature, humidity, and wind forecasts; forest rangers are sent out to the risk areas, and metal gongs serve as alarms against any fires.
The revolutionary project was introduced by the Small Mammal Conservation Organization, founded by Iroro Tanshi, and it has proved its effectiveness in Cross River.
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Saving an Environment at Risk
The area of Afi forest and the surrounding Cross River National Park has many animals that are endangered species, including the Cross River gorilla, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, and the drill monkey.
Tanshi became involved after witnessing a severe fire in 2016, just days after her team rediscovered the short-tailed roundleaf bat, a rare species believed to be extinct in that area.
With fire being one of the threats, Tanshi worked alongside local communities to develop strategies and tools to help predict and prevent fires using scientific and traditional techniques.
Solving the Problem of Hunting and Shifting Perspectives
Aside from the problem of fire, another challenge involved hunting, which was common, as people hunted bats for their meat in large numbers.
The team of Tanshi also provided other means of earning a living by raising cane rats and conducted awareness programs on bats being harmless animals.
International Acknowledgment of Local Conservation Projects
Through conservation and providing alternative sources of income, Tanshi has been able to preserve biodiversity while improving the quality of life in her community. As per the Goldman Prize, the efforts of Tanshi show that conserving nature is not always against the interests of the local population.
Conclusion
Thus, the awarding of the Goldman Environmental Prize to Iroro Tanshi shows that she has created an exemplary model of biodiversity protection by applying innovative approaches. Collaborating with local communities around the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, Tanshi demonstrated that people can successfully protect their biodiversity without putting their livelihoods at risk.
In particular, she used scientific expertise, indigenous knowledge, and modern technologies to minimize the risks of wildfires and ensure the safety of such species as the Cross River gorilla and bats. In a period of global changes when the ecosystems of Africa become increasingly vulnerable, Tanshi has found a way to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development.
The replication of her approach beyond the borders of Nigeria confirms that the protection of the environment should start from the ground up, with empowering local communities.
