Yitmwa Joel is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. She was born and raised in northern Nigeria, a biodiversity hotspot that forged a fascination and love for nature — as well as conservation — from a young age.
Yitmwa earned a master’s degree in conservation biology after receiving training from the A.P Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, or APLORI, via the University of Jos in Nigeria. Before that, she received a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Jos.
Currently, she is a research intern with APLORI’s Nocturnal Avian Ecology Lab, and is also a member of the Nigerian chapter of the Women in Nature Network. She is passionate about working with local communities — particularly women and young girls — to promote conservation and sustainable management of the earth’s natural resources.
Assessing the Population Status and Distribution of Vultures in North-Eastern Nigeria
Yitmwa’s project focuses on the decline of vultures in Nigeria. Vultures are incredibly important in maintaining the stability of the local ecosystem, but not much is known about what exactly is causing their populations to decline. With more information, it’s possible that this can be turned around.
Yitmwa will work to determine the current population of vultures in the Bauchi state of Nigeria while putting together conservation awareness and education programs for the people who live in the area. By balancing the scientific data with the questions and concerns of the people, Yitmwa can design programs that lead to better decision-making when it comes to the conservation of the vulture.
