Development of Nature-Based Tourism Plan

Background and Context

The Afi–Mbe–Okwangwo (AMO) landscape forms a contiguous, highly bio-diverse rainforest ecosystem in Cross River State bordering Cameroon within the Gulf of Guinea biodiversity hotspot. This continuous habitat corridor consists of three critical protected, the community-managed Mbe Mountains, the state-managed Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctury, and the federal government-managed Okwangwo division of the Cross River National Park.

This landscape is the primary stronghold for the critically endangered Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli), with a fragile population surviving in Nigeria. It also hosts Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees, drills, forest elephants, and the rare grey-necked rockfowl. Beyond being a critical wildlife habitat, the landscape constitutes a major ecotourism destination and important watersheds.

In spite of the landscape’s potentials to deploy nature-based approach to improving forest management and wildlife protection, including improving nature-based tourism, the landscape faces serious threats from poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment driven by a lack of sustainable alternative livelihoods for its surrounding support zone communities, and more recently mining for precious stone, particularly in Okwangwo.

The European Union is funding WCS to implement the Protection of Forests and Biodiversity (PROFAB) in CRS, and part of this project implementation requires the development of nature-based tourism plan for Mbe. Considering the intricate connectivity of all the three areas, WCS is expanding this plan across Afi, Mbe and Okwangwo(AMO). This is important because unlocking regulated, high-yield nature-based tourism offers a non-consumptive economic alternative to extractive practices like logging and poaching enables strong community participation.

While some sites like the Obudu Plateau and the Drill Ranch in Buanchor have established hospitality assets, though recently poorly managed, they generally lack integrated management, structured trails, adequate access, and proper community-benefit frameworks. This plan will therefore bridge that gap by establishing a unified, community-inclusive nature-based tourism model that will turn biodiversity protection into a self-sustaining incentive for integrated landscape management.

Scope and Alignment with EU-PROFAB

Three activities are linked into this one deliverable, including:

• Development of nature-based tourism plan
• Training for CRSFC in ecotourism, wildlife conservation and management of community forests and
• Training and coaching of Forest Management Committees by CBOs - Activity. Training FMCs on nature-based tourism will be an added value to ongoing and planned FMC capacity buidling under PROFAB.

Introduction and Objective of the Assignment

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) seeks to engage a qualified consultant to draft a comprehensive Nature-Based Tourism Plan for the Afi–Mbe–Okwangwo Landscape. The consultant will design a low-impact tourism blueprint that protects critical primate habitats specifically the Cross River gorilla while generating sustainable revenue and employment for resident communities.

Scope of Work

The consultant will perform tasks categorized across four major operational areas including:

I     Baseline Assessment and Asset Mapping

• Audit existing tourism resources, including the Pandrillus Drill Ranch, the Afi canopy walkway, nature trails, and scenic vistas like the Obudu Resort.
• Evaluate road access, cellular connectivity, clean water access, and emergency medical services within the support zone villages.
• Compute Visitor Carrying Capacities (VCC) for sensitive zones to prevent habitat disruption, especially near gorilla nesting clusters and bird roosting locations.

II    Community Engagement/Institutioal Capacity Building and Governance Design

1. Conduct participatory workshops across (support zone) communities (including engaging community traditional institutions like chiefs, FMCs, CAMM in Mbe, CAAFiM in Afi and any other groups) to gauge local interests and traditional readiness or opportunities to promote nature-based tourism.
2. Recommend a structured trilateral institutional framework to coordinate operations among the National Park Service (Okwangwo), Cross River State Forestry Commission (Afi), and CAMM (Mbe) and the role WCS can play in such an operational arrangement.
3. Train staff of Cross River State Forestry Commission and other relevant groups like CAMM/CAAFiM on nature-based tourism.
4. Use the outcome of B above to recommend a structured Public-Private and Community Partnerships to promote nature-based tourism in the landscape.
5. Identify the roles that civil society, research institutions and others can play in the recommended structure.

III   Infrastructure and Product Development Planning

1. Zonify landscape e.g. Strict Conservation Zones (no-go for tourists), Low-Impact Zones (guided trekking only), and Buffer Activity Zones (visitor centers, lodges, etc.).
2. Design a connected trail network linking the broader landscape features down into the Okwangwo lowland valleys and Mbe ridges.

IV   Marketing, Financial, and Business Modeling

1. Develop a realistic tenure revenue model outlining visitor fee structures, concessions, and guide licensing rules.
2. Draft an investment prospectus highlighting eco-lodge development sites for private sector participation under Public-Private-Community Partnerships (PPCP).

Deliverables and Timeline

The assignment shall be completed within 3 months (October - December 2026).

Required Expertise and Qualifications

The consultant must demonstrate the following experience and minimum qualifications:

1. Minimum of a Master’s degree or relevant experience in Ecotourism, Protected Area Management, Environmental Economics, or a related discipline, with over 10 years of experience managing complex conservation-tourism projects in Nigeria. Experience in Cross River State is an added advantage.
2. Proven track record in primate habitat conservation, ecological monitoring, and environmental impact assessments.
3. Extensive experience setting up community-based conservation initiatives, alternative livelihood programs, or benefit-sharing trusts in Nigeria, particularly Cross River State.
4. Demonstrated background in designing low-footprint wilderness trails, canopy walkways, and off-grid eco-lodges sensitive to fragile tropical environments in Nigeria, particularly in Cross River State.
5.