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| Photo of Rachel Ikemeh |
Nigerian conservationist Rachel Ikemeh has been named a 2026 laureate of the Rolex Awards for her work with local communities to protect the Niger Delta’s unique ecosystem and the critically endangered Niger Delta red colobus monkey.
Protecting the Endangered Niger Delta Red Colobus
The Niger Delta red colobus (Piliocolobus epieni), locally known as the epieni, is among the world’s most threatened primates. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species faces a serious risk of extinction because of habitat loss and other environmental pressures.
The monkey was first scientifically described in 1993, when its population was estimated at around 10,000 individuals across its restricted habitat in the Niger Delta. By 2013, however, its numbers had fallen to just hundreds, according to research cited in reporting on Ikemeh’s conservation work.
In 2021, Ikemeh and her colleagues helped establish a community-protected area covering 1,010 hectares (2,496 acres) in Apoi, a community within the monkey’s habitat. The initiative places local people at the centre of efforts to protect the forest and its wildlife.
The results have offered encouraging signs. Ikemeh told Mongabay by email that the red colobus population in the community-protected forest increased from 90 individuals in 2021 to between 180 and 200 by 2024. Her team has also supported the establishment of community conservation areas in the nearby communities of Garnaut and Kokoloama.
How Local Communities Are Making a Difference
For Ikemeh, receiving the Rolex Award represents more than a personal achievement. She described the honour as validation of the community-led conservation model and the people who have worked to protect their natural environment.
She said attitudes towards conservation have changed considerably over the years. Initially, some community members were suspicious that the project might lead to the government taking control of their forest. Today, she says, the epieni has become a source of pride for the community.