Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has put in $20 million as funding for Watershed Protection for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply (WATERFALL) in 137 communities in Cross River and Bauchi states.
The Country Director of WCS, Andrew Dunn, stated this, yesterday, at a one-day workshop in Calabar, tagged Watershed Protection for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply to commemorate 2023 World Water Day celebration. He said the project, a five-year programme is targeted at increasing water security and resilience estimated to cover 24, 592 households.
According to him, the project would strengthen long-term access to safe drinking water and reduce levels of water-borne disease by supporting community-based watershed governance, sanitation and protecting watershed sources through conserving forest and woodland ecosystem.
Adunn further stated that the programme’s geographic focus is the forested landscape of Cross River, including the Oban and Okwangwo Division of the state Natural Pack, AFI Mountain Widelife Sanctuary and the Savannah Woodlands of Bauchi, including Yankari Game Reserve, together with their surrounding communities.
In his presentation, the Deputy Chief of Party, WCS, Dr. Imong Inayom, said government has a huge role to play in protecting the forest by collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the conservative sector.
