Yet
the forest ecosystem of Cameroon is an indispensable biological treasure to
mankind and its destruction will entail the destruction of life therein. It is
therefore of great interest to protect its very rich biodiversity.
Paradoxically, in Cameroon the forests remain the object of wanton exploitation
regardless of existing laws.
A
recent study indicates that since 1997, a hundred billion francs CFA are lost
each year as a result of illegal deforestation. On the other hand, legal
exploitation of the forest, both industrial and artisanal, provides the
government with about 37 billion francs CFA each year.
Nonetheless,
the government has very little control over the 21 million hectares of
Cameroon’s forest cover.
Because
of that limited control and some evident corrupt practices, the forest has
become a go-all area with the influential making millions and the poor left only
with their eyes to weep.
The
consequences are evident today with a warmer climate in areas like Nkongsamba,
Yaounde and Bamenda, advancing deserts in the Northern provinces of Cameroon,
and draught and floods in the coastal zones.
In
the face of all this, the people and government have not folded their arms to
watch disasters as they strike. As a matter of fact, it has given rise to the
need to rethink strategies to better manage the biodiversity of the country,
with local communities having a direct say: what experts usually refer to as
“reinforcing the participatory approach to environmental protection.”
The
issue here is encouraging cooperation between government agencies,
conservationists and villagers by creating a meeting point where all parties
will be happy with each other.
Against
that backdrop, a 1996 law relating to environmental management makes the
environment a common heritage that must be exploited sustainably.
Thereon,
non-governmental organizations and government agencies have identified
threatened ecosystems and, together with local communities, have been working at
conservation.
A
few examples are telling:
|
|
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Benoue,
Cameroon
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The
Kilum-Ijim mountain projects are responsible for protecting the biodiversity of
what is left of that mountain forest in the northwest of Cameroon that contains
some very important endemic plant and animal species e.g. the Banneramans
turacco, a rare bird found only in Kilum-Ijim, and the Prunus
africana or pygeum, a medicinal plant known for its beneficial
effects on prostrate cancer.
The
Mengame Gorilla Sanctuary seeks to encourage the protection of the lowland
gorilla in the south of Cameroon and north of Gabon.
The
Korupt project covers the evergreen forest in the Southwest province of Cameroon
and protects some rare medicinal plants like Ancistrocladus Kuropensis,
whose chemical extract, muchellamin B inhibits the spread of the HIV virus
invitro.
In
all of these projects, local communities play an active role with villagers
trained on how to go about conservation activities and the benefits of such
protection.
But
the nightmare of it all comes with the logging business, as local communities
usually stand helpless in the face of wanton exploitation of the forests by
large logging companies. However, there is hope that one day somehow, the people
will take hold and force the government to put an end to such practices so that
the forest can be exploited rationally taking into account the interests of the
people and of humanity.
Sources:
-
Cameroon’s
National Master Plan of Environmental Management; published 1996 by the Ministry
of Environment and Forestry, Yaounde.
-
Law
no. 96/12 of 5th August 1996 relating to
environmental management in Cameroon.
-
Environmental
Management: The Challenges, Interests and Linkages Between Actors in the Center,
South, East, Littoral, West, North - West, South -West, Adamawa, North and
Extreme North Provinces Of Cameroon; published by Jean Nyemba Ambela et al,
October 2000, Yaounde.
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Personal
Observations From Field Trip
Moses Nyoh
has a Masters degree in Health and Environmental Communication and has been reporting on such issues on Cameroon Television for the past three years where he is currently the editor–in-chief in charge of television documentaries and news features. Your emails will be forwarded to him by contacting the editor at:
ScienceTech@islam-online.net
