Lagos offers a plethora of tourist attractions, but very few are good for the environment. We have the Lufasi Nature Park among those that are good for the environment. It seems like a strange name. It turns out that “LUFASI” stands for Lekki Urban Forestry and Animal Shelter Initiative. The LUFASI nature park is located in Sangotedo, Eti-Osa, Lagos.
According to TripAdvisor, the LUFASI nature park is the eighth-best thing to do in Lagos. This demonstrates the importance of this location for both the environment and people. Lufasi Nature Park is a tranquil place where the wonders of nature are shown. In this piece, we will unravel the mysteries of the LUFASI nature park, including its fauna, history, offerings, and the devoted efforts made to protect this natural oasis.
The gentle sounds of rustling leaves and birdsong will greet you as soon as you step through the gate. Access to the expansive grandeur of the park is made possible with a simple 1,500-naira gate permit. The voyage starts in the welcoming area, a calm setting that heralds the beginning of an immersive encounter.
A children’s playground greets visitors to the park and tells them that it is a family-friendly place. Past that, a cabana house provides a fun pit stop for refreshments. There’s a small but captivating art gallery. A moment of admiration for both nature and human creation is created by the beautiful artwork and peaceful atmosphere.
You would be assigned a guide who would provide you with information on the importance of the park’s historic trees and wildlife preservation. You may have some itching on your body when you first arrive, but you will eventually get used to it.
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Animals Found in the LUFASI Nature Park, Lagos
The experienced tour guides lead visitors into the world of wild creatures, where they reveal a diverse array of natural phenomena. Some of them include:
1. Endangered African Wild Donkey
The African wild donkey stands four feet tall and weighs over two hundred and fifty kilogrammes (600 lb). The coat is short and sleek, with a hue that swiftly fades to white on the legs and undersides, from light grey to fawn. They consume grass and plants as food. Jenny, the albino female donkey, has a 340-day gestation period.
2. A 50-Year-Old Tortoise
3. Civet Cat
African civet (Civettictis civetta) are large viverrids native to sub-Saharan Africa. There, they are found in woodlands and secondary forests and are regarded as common. They are consistently misidentified as raccoons. Since 2008, it has been classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is threatened by hunting in some countries when individuals captured in the wild are held to make civetone for the perfume industry.
4. Pangolins
In actuality, pangolins are mammals. Being completely coated in scales, they are the only mammals that use their scales to fend off predators in the wild. They are mainly active at night.
5. Different Species of Monkey
Here, monkeys—each with a distinct personality and past—take centre stage, highlighting the park’s function as a rescue facility.
6. The Fern Garden
The fern garden houses two distinct species of ferns which are the board fern and the sword fern.
7. The Duckpond
The duck pond houses only two ducks for now with hope for these ducks to reproduce.
8. The Lake Moses
The Lake Moses is an artificial lake built for Earth’s Restoration.
9. The Lake Nora
Also an artificial lake, Lake Nora
10. Artificial Traditional Shrine
Here some Nigerian and African movies which involve some traditional activities are acted.
11. The Ekki Tree (150 years)
The tree is thus classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN red list. In southwestern Nigeria, especially Lagos, very few Ekki trees are left to flourish; some of these trees are housed and protected by LUFASI Nature Park.
Tourists also come close to the Ekki tree for Forest Bathing (A time out in the forest to connect with nature). This practice helps rejuvenate the human body because we are one with nature.
One of LUFASI’s innovative afforestation projects, the Ekki Reforestation Project, aims to accomplish the organization’s strategic goal of preserving LUFASI’s forest, protecting its biodiversity, and contributing to expanding the forest cover throughout the state.
There are many mature trees and Ekki saplings in the LUFASI forest, and we’re working to strengthen the border fence to provide the best possible protection. Replanting these trees in other degraded regions of Lagos and throughout Nigeria is a goal shared by LUFASI.
There have been sightings of manatees, Little bee-eaters, west African hornbills, African Water Buffalo, African Harrier Hawks, Malachite Kingfishers, and many species of vultures. Other special species you can find include the Guava tree, Golden Palms, Jackfruit tree, the Neem Tree, the Queen Green Canopy, the Tangerine Tree, etc.
What Does the LUFASI Nature Park Offer?
Here are some services that LUFASI offers
- Environmental Education
- Forest Conservation
- Animal Sanctuary
- Advocacy
1. Environmental Education
LUFASI is always coming up with innovative ways to educate the public and schoolchildren about environmental issues like plastic pollution, biodiversity conservation, and climate change. The forest acts as a living laboratory for students and groups to gain practical knowledge. The following are just a few of our educational offerings:
- Educative Environmental Workshops
- Environmental Education: Creative Learning Materials
- Eco Excursion
1. Educative Environmental Workshops
These are hands-on workshops that educate kids about the pressing issues affecting the Earth’s climate and provide them with the tools they need to take local climate action. Students receive factual knowledge about topics such as Climate Change, Plastic Pollution, and Biodiversity Conservation during the programme through storytelling, multimedia, anecdotes, and an entertaining nature reserve visit.
2. Environmental Education: Creative Learning Materials
The dearth of creative, homegrown teaching resources on climate change that integrate science with local reality is what inspired this effort.
They asked school representatives, environmental educators, community leaders, and religious organisations for community intelligence in order to solve this problem. The abundance of information was transformed into vibrant booklets about climate change, an animated film, engaging games and activities, and an enjoyable forest exploration.
3. Eco Excursion
Annually, during the Easter and summer vacations, students are taken on unique environmental explorations to locations significant to the preservation of the natural world. The trips include enjoyable travels throughout Africa, city exhibits, and visits to wildlife and natural areas.
2. Forest Conservation
Twenty hectares of LUFASI’s native forest in Lagos were protected when the organisation first got started. Their commitment lies in the preservation, restoration, and expansion of urban forests and natural habitats.
These urban forests serve as a natural habitat, hosting globally significant species like the vulnerable Ekki “Iron Wood” tree Lophira alata and the critically endangered Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes Monachus, which provides context for all their current activities.
LUFASI’s Forest Conservation Unit therefore focuses on:
- Bridging the knowledge gap in our forest biodiversity and expanding green cover and natural habitats across urban areas in Nigeria.
- The Conservation of the Hooded Vulture and Ekki Tree Project.
- The Urban Afforestation Project
- systematic surveys and monitoring of another urban forest biodiversity to document and disseminate knowledge on its flora and fauna.
- Serving as a field laboratory for organic agro-forestry activities, our agro-forestry farm currently produces vegetables such as cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Ugwu leaves (Telfairia occidentalis), Paw-Paw (Carica papaya), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) and cassava (Manihot esculenta), as well as tenera oil palm fresh fruit bunches.
These urban forests give context for all of their current activities by acting as a natural habitat for globally significant species like the critically endangered Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes Monachus and the delicate Ekki “Iron Wood” tree Lophira alata.
LUFASI’s Forest Conservation Unit therefore focuses on:
Thus, the following are the main objectives of LUFASI’s Forest Conservation Unit:
- Closing the knowledge gap in our forest biodiversity and increasing natural habitats and green cover in Nigerian urban areas.
- The Ekki Tree and Hooded Vulture Conservation Project.
- Urban Afforestation Project
- Agroforestry farm which serves as a field laboratory for organic agro-forestry activities. It currently produces vegetables like tenera and palm-fresh fruit bunches.
- Conducting systematic surveys and monitoring other urban forest biodiversity to document and disseminate knowledge on its flora and fauna.
- Keeping up the tree seedling nursery and planting at least 3,000 trees in Nigeria each year at various locations to restore natural habitats and increase greenery. To help our tree-planting project, they now have twenty different plant species in their nursery.
3. Animal Sanctuary
Animals that are in trouble or are being persecuted might find sanctuary at their Animal Sanctuary. When possible, these creatures are returned to the wild after being saved and given rehabilitation.
They also raise public awareness of the need to recognise and comprehend the connection between humans, animals, and the environment, and they provide a voice to the worldwide movement opposing the persecution of wildlife.
Currently, they offer refuge to tiny animals, avifauna, ungulates, and primates that are being persecuted. Some of these include the African Wild Donkey (Equus africanus), the West African Barb Horse (Equus ferus callabus), the Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus mona) and the Helmeted Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris).
They have committed veterinarians who visit frequently to provide and dispense preventive medication to stave off potential illnesses, as well as dedicated animal groomers who keep an eye on each rehabilitated animal’s wellbeing.
The living circumstances of the animals they rescue are always improving. They intend to improve all of the animal shelters and keep raising public awareness of the value of protecting Nigeria’s wildlife and putting an end to its persecution.
4. Advocacy
LUFASI recognises the threats that lie ahead when there are insufficiently strong laws and policies safeguarding Nigeria’s biodiversity and natural ecosystems. They contend that there are insufficient laws and policies in place to guarantee the actualization of nature conservation and protection, making it powerless in the absence of advocacy. Among their advocacy initiatives are:
- Save the Lekki Coastline Campaign
- Conservation of the critically endangered Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
- Urban Afforestation Project
Conclusion
Lufasi Nature Park is more than just a place to visit; it’s evidence of how humans and the environment can coexist peacefully. Lufasi is a shining example of responsible tourism because of its initiatives to conserve the environment, safeguard the park’s fauna, and maintain its historical legacy. Think of Lufasi Nature Park the next time you want to get away and spend some time in the arms of nature.
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A passion-driven environmentalist by heart. Lead content writer at EnvironmentGo.
I strive to educate the public about the environment and its problems.
It has always been about nature, we ought to protect not destroy.