CENTRE FOR ECOLOGICAL

Welcome to the Centre for Ecological & Community Development

A Nigerian Civil Society Organization (RC: 89699) protecting and conserving the environment with special emphasis on tropical rainforests, shoreline, marine resource management and climate change.

Our Projects → Learn About Deforestation

25,000

Sqkm Target

20,000

Households

10M t

Carbon by 2030

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Centre for Ecological and Community Development — welcome banner from our website

Welcome to CECD

Centre for Ecological & Community Development

Who We Are

Centre for Ecological
and Community Development (CECD)

The Centre for Ecological and Community Development (CECD), is a Civil Society Organization, registered in Nigeria (RC: 89699) for the protection and conservation of the environment with special emphasis on tropical rainforests, shoreline, marine resource management and climate change.

Our Vision

CECD envisions a society where critical ecosystems are protected, conserved and restored for present and future benefits of human and wildlife that depend on them.

Our Mission

The mission of CECD is to protect ecosystems by promoting sustainable land use planning and building climate resilience by conserving, protecting and restoring tropical rainforests, biodiversity, and coastal shoreline and marine resource management.

CECD at the REDD+ forum

Our Goals

Protect, restore and conserve over 25,000 sqkm of lower Guinea Coastal Wetlands and rainforests to sequester carbon and reduce biodiversity loss — returning over 10 million tons of carbon by 2030. Support over 20,000 indigenous rural farming households to build climate resilience, and build the capacity of over 10,000 indigenous smallholders for the management and preservation of their forests and high carbon stock ecosystems.

Interactive section at a CECD event

Our Objectives

Promote conservation and sustainable management of forests and biodiversity. Help communities adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change with land use planning for meaningful reduction in carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Participants at a CECD event

Livelihoods & ICT

Support over 20,000 indigenous households with pro-poor forest-based livelihood development such as fish farming and snail farming. Promote ICT development on land use mapping, monitoring and verification for carbon finance and emission trading markets, plus urbanization, housing and climate change awareness campaigns.

John Akinnuba explaining at the REDD+ workshop

Our Strategies

Environmental advocacy and publicity. Grassroots mobilization and awareness on climate change adaptation action plans. Capacity building through town hall meetings, workshops and symposia. Participatory tropical rainforest conservation projects, research and development, in collaboration with development partners, governments and research institutions.

Our Movement

Data from the Niger Delta Forest for Life project and our community across Nigeria.

2.5M

Hectares of rainforest, coastal & wetland to restore

6+

Community members and nature stewards

600+

Communities engaged across the Niger Delta

15M t

Tons of carbon sequestered by 2030

Who We Serve

We connect communities, partners, businesses and government with the knowledge, data, and funding needed to restore nature.

Communities

Communities

Connect with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to protect your ancestral forests and prove your impact.

Join the Movement →
Local Partners

Local Partners

Monitor your portfolio of projects with shared datasets, comparing and reporting with confidence.

Explore Community →
Donors & Businesses

Donors & Businesses

Understand the impact of your support on the environment and showcase the outcomes of your nature projects.

Support Our Work →
Government & Research

Government & Research

Monitor the health of ecosystems across the Niger Delta and report with credible field data.

Get in Touch →
Explore Our Work

Stories, lectures, and campaigns from our field activities across the Niger Delta and the Guinea Forest region.

Youths Summit on Climate Change
Youths Summit on Climate Change

What's New

CECD hosts the Youths Summit on Climate Change — building a generation of stewards for the planet.

Read More →
Deforestation article
Deforestation

The Deforestation Crisis

The socio-economic and environmental impacts of deforestation in the humid tropics.

Read More →
Professor Adebisi Balogun's Lecture
2006 Earth Day Lecture

Prof. A. Balogun's Lecture

Global warming, climate change and adaptation — the full lecture delivered on Earth Day.

Read More →
World Water Monitoring Day
Freshwater Ecosystems

World Water Monitoring Day

Protecting our watersheds — why the health of our rivers begins with us.

Read More →
Rights and Ecosystems
Farmers' Rights

People's Rights & Ecosystems

Protecting plant genetic resources and the rights of farmers under the International Treaty.

Read More →
Our Projects
NDFL NSP & GWNN

Our Projects

The Niger Delta Forest for Life Nature-based Solutions and the Global Water Network.

Read More →
West Africa Guinea Forests Alliance
WAGFCA

Guinea Forest Alliance

Net zero deforestation in the Guinea Forest region through civil society and community action.

Read More →
Events and Photographs
Gallery

Events & Photographs

Earth Day, the REDD+ forum, workshops and community engagement in pictures.

View Gallery →
Add Your Voice Balogun's Lecture My Files Contact CECD
About CECD

The Centre for Ecological and Community Development (CECD) is a Civil Society Organization registered in Nigeria (RC: 89699). We promote sustainable land use, build climate resilience, and protect rainforests, biodiversity, and coastal marine resources.

Our Mission

Promote sustainable land use and protect rainforests, biodiversity, and coastal marine resources.

Our Vision

Globally significant ecosystems restored and protected for people and wildlife.

Monitor Our Land

Access ecological data for free and use the latest biodiversity indexes to prioritize action across the Niger Delta.

  • Field data from 600+ communities
  • Carbon & biodiversity indexes
  • Community-led monitoring

Demonstrate Impact

Streamline impact reporting and show stakeholders real nature impact at scale.

  • Automated reporting tools
  • Portfolio-level comparison
  • 15M tons carbon target by 2030

We connect community projects with funders to drive impact and shared success.

  • Discover local projects
  • Support the movement
  • Transparent donor reporting
Join the Movement

Everything You Need to Get Involved.

A living community space for conservationists across the Niger Delta and beyond.

Community Hub

Connect with fellow conservationists, share updates, and follow live chat.

Enter Community →

Forum

Discuss conservation topics, share knowledge, and ask questions.

Visit Forum →

Friends & Messaging

Add friends, view who's online, and send messages in real time.

Manage Friends →

Polls & Surveys

Vote on conservation priorities and share your voice in surveys.

Take Part →
Updates

Latest News.

Updates on our conservation efforts, community engagement, and environmental initiatives.

March 29, 2026

The Hidden Giants: Discovering New Species in the Niger Delta

Our recent expedition into the heart of the Niger Delta has yielded incredible results. We have identified three potentially new species of ...

Read Full Article →
March 29, 2026

Community-Led Reforestation: A Success Story

Over the past six months, we have partnered with local communities to plant over 50,000 native trees. This initiative not only restores biod...

Read Full Article →
Field Report · Accra 2026

Africa at the Centre: Leading Change, Shifting Power.

CECD joined over 2,000 civil society and government delegates from across the continent to help Africa shape the future of development.

About the Conference

For decades, development in Africa has largely been shaped by externally defined priorities, funding models, and measures of success — often limiting African ownership and weakening the sustainability of local solutions.

Africa at the Centre: Leading Change, Shifting Power responds to this reality by creating a space to reimagine development from an African perspective, placing African leadership, knowledge, and agency at the heart of systems change.

The Africa Family, Leading Change

Participated in the Africa Family leading change sessions, shared as micro-sessions at the convening.

Stakeholder Collaboration

Learned from a Kenyan organization's community stakeholder engagement process — mapping the power of stakeholder collaboration.

We are grateful to be part of this movement. The convening has enriched our knowledge dynamics and widened our horizons on many perspectives — and we are glad that John Akinnuba has reached Nigeria safely.

2,000+
Delegates
3
Days
09/2026
Accra, Ghana
Africa at the Centre convening, Accra 2026
John Akinnuba CEO, Centre for Ecological & Community Development (CECD)
The Data Explorer

Explore Restoration In Your Region.

Live nature sites, organizational impact, funding opportunities — all open and data-driven.

The Map

Every restoration site, everywhere. Browse forests, mangroves, and coastlines across the Niger Delta.

Open the Map →

Impact Insights

Transparent, data-driven progress: members by region, monthly giving, and restoration trends.

See the Data →

Funding

Find grants, project funds, and donor opportunities to finance the work that matters.

Browse Funding →

With only 5 years to restore 1 billion hectares*, every project matters.

Start your project on the map, track its progress, and fund the work behind the world's largest restoration movement.

Start Your Project Explore the Map

*UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) goal of restoring one billion hectares of degraded land.

Get Involved

Support Our Mission.

Every contribution helps us protect rainforests, build climate resilience, and ensure a sustainable future across the Niger Delta.

Monthly Donation

Provide consistent support for our rangers and research programs.

Donate Now

Gift Shop

Buy gifts, adopt a tree, or send a gift to a friend in the community.

Browse Gifts

Volunteer

Join us on the ground for field research and community projects.

Join Community

Spread the Word

Share our mission with your network and raise awareness.

Contact Us
Connect With Us

Get in Touch.

Whether you're a scientist, a potential partner, or a supporter, we'd love to hear from you.

Email Us

cecdrainforestnig@gmail.com

Call Us

+234 812 001 3768

Main Office

581 Ikwere Road, Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State