Community led conservation leadership.

The solve action is geared towards tackling conflicting and overlapping land use activities promoted by government agencies that lead to serious pressure being mounted on the forest and natural resources and destroying the rich carbon sink of the Ebo forest within Guinean Forest of West Africa. This situation puts communities at risk as they currently have strong cultural ties and attachment to the forest which they consider their heritage. They are not sufficiently consulted and do not take part in decision making. At the same time, they do not have sufficient tools to advocate to defend their access and user rights. Some of the community people are grossly engaged in illegal logging, poaching and unsustainable agricultural activities as sources of living. This cacophonic circumstance is one that is driving serious deforestation and forest degradation at local community level and Yabassi Key Biodiversity Area (Y-KBA). 

The problem is affecting over 52 local communities within the KBA made up of over 5430 people residing in the landscape. 

It should be noted that, the landscape is the site is situated in the vast expense of forested country stretching from Yabassi (Nkam Department) to Ndikiniméki (Mbam Department). It consists mainly of three contiguous blocks of forest: Makombé (c.600 km²), Ndokbou (at least 1,000 km²) and Ebo (1,400 km²). Makombé Forest is immediately east of and contiguous with the forest of Mont Nlonako (CM023); their common boundary is formed by the Nkam river and the road from Yabassi to Nkondjock. The Makombé Forest is limited to the north, east and south by the Makombé river, a tributary of the Nkam. Ndokbou Forest stretches east from the middle Makombé river to Ndikiniméki, north to Tongo, and is contiguous to the south with Ebo Forest. The latter is traversed by the Ebo river in its centre, limited to the west by the Dibamba and to the east by the Iwouem river (a tributary of the Sanaga). These forests are fringed with a few hunting villages along their borders, but are otherwise uninhabited. The relief is steep, especially in Ndokbou and Ebo where many hills reach over 1,000 m (to 1,304 m). Away from river valleys where the forest can be impressively tall, the main forest-type is semi-evergreen with a low canopy: on steep gradients the soils are rather shallow, underlain with clay and rocks, thus the canopy reaches moderate heights (often around 20 m) and emergents are well spaced out. Common tall trees include Antrocaryon, Ceiba, Lophira, Piptadeniastrum, Pycnanthus, Scyphocephalum, Terminalia and Uapaca.

The area is rich with over 310 species identified in a first survey; a few montane species inhabit the highest hills, i.e. two species of the Cameroon mountains EBA (086) and Afrotropical Highlands biome (A07), including Nectarinia oritis (an interesting extension of range to the south-east). Ceratogymna elata is common in the Makombé Forest; Hirundo fuliginosa is found commonly throughout and there are several breeding colonies of Picathartes oreas, especially in the north of Ebo. One Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) species was also recorded.

Non-bird biodiversity: Makombé Forest has been over-hunted, but the Ndokbou and Ebo Forests are still extremely important for their large populations of Loxodonta africana (EN) and several primates. These include Pan troglodytes (EN), Cercopithecus preussi (EN), Mandrillus leucophaeus (EN) still found in large groups throughout (this site probably harbours the most important population of drill in Cameroon today), a ‘new’ population of Procolobus (badius) preussi (EN) and, also most unexpectedly, a small population of Gorilla gorilla (EN) and some Forest elephants confined to the north-east hills of Ebo Forest and perhaps also in south Ndokbou. The frog Conraua goliath (VU) is much hunted for food, but is still widespread.

Solution Method

Strengthen the initiative of zero deforestation agriculture production (cocoa, cassava and plantains) of small and medium-sized farmers, promotion of sustainable Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and the related value chains as well as the technical capacities of farmers, including youth and women and resilience to climate change;

During the implementation of the solution, we will:

• Assess and analyze deforestation trends using land cover mapping, conduct socio-economic analysis of different farming systems, and the value chains of some of the key commodities in the landscape using field survey, questionnaires, focus group discussions and group meetings;
• Assess soil quality and forest cover and monitor over time;
• Carryout inventories on Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the Ebo forest;
• Carryout studies on innovative techniques in harvesting and processing of NTFPs;
• Train and support farmers on innovative techniques on collection, harvesting, processing and marketing of NTFPs;
• Support capacity building for farmers on carbon friendly agriculture with the use of BIOCHAR, provide high-yielding seeds (nursery), set up and support cooperatives etc. This in collaboration with Universities and research institutions (IRAD, PROJET PRESS II CAMEROUN – BGR COOPÉRATION ALLEMANDE), sectorial Ministries (MINFOF, MINADER) for consulting services and supply of improved quality planting material;
• conduct environmental education in local communities and in schools.

Develop community participatory maps and land use plans integrating biodiversity footprint, restoration opportunities in relation to the management of natural resources

With respect to this solution, we intend to:

• Support the elaboration and development of Community participatory mapping (CPM) and land use planning (LUP) integrating biodiversity and ecological data into the processes;
• Implement CPM and LUP in communities and local councils using the prescribed land use planning methodology developed by MINEPAT;
• Establish online data base on demography and socioeconomic information for each community.

Support integrated community restoration of degraded landscapes

We will:

• Use Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM) to identify degraded land and the opportunities available at local and national levels for restoration;
• Use result from ROAM to support the council and communities to create and manage tree nursery;
• Accompany communities to carryout restoration actions in identified degraded areas using enrichment-planting, agroforestry and assisted natural regeneration approach with focus on high-value native economic species. Here there will be rigorous monitoring of the growth of the planted species with results of growth rate documented at the level of the council. 

Knowledge management, communication and data management

knowledge management and communication will also be supported throughout the realization of the solution. Communication activities will be undertaken to disseminate the results and lessons learned from the project and from previous initiatives to farmers and local communities and councils, mainly in the targeted region. Agricultural producers and cooperatives focused will be prioritized as well as the concerned councils Yingui, Yabassi, Dibamba and Douala III. Some technical exchanges between villages and with other regions will be also organized. Methodological guidelines will be disseminated, and tested in the landscape. Experiences and lessons learned will be published, particularly for land use planning, mapping, restoration (agroforestry and degraded landscape management), using appropriate media for the local, national and international targets (website, radio broadcast, etc.), so that these experiences and practical tools can inform the scaling up of successful experiences. The cost of the communication materials, such as printing, media outreach, as well as expertise are covered by funding. The beneficiaries of the technical exchanges will be the same as the project beneficiaries.

An open source data management system will be developed for online vewing of the solutions and linked to other platforms. 

Beneficiaries include: 

- Community members around Yingui, Yabassi, Ngambe council area

- Association des Chefs Traditionnels Riverain de la Forêt d’Ebo (ACTRIFE)

- L’Association Munen Retour au Source (Banen people)

- Clubs des Amis des Gorilles

- Councils of Yingui and Yabassi

impacts will include:

• Documented land tenure and natural resources, rights of 3 communities support in resolving conflicts by at least 30% on user rights and claims and strengthens tenure security by 40% for efficient forest management with informed decisions making tools put in place for effective forest Ecosystem management of the YKBA .
• The project contribute to reduced land-use conflicts as a result of improved tenure and natural resources management as a result of the 3 communities adopting and implementing their CLUP.
• Land and Natural resources management and community conservation dynamics and outcomes effectively operating with skills and knowledge gained from capacity building sessions.

• Increased inclusive and transparent land and natural resource management and sustainable rural development and conservation amongst local communities, local councils and government, via development of a community Land Use Plans .

• Communities effective use knowledge and skills on land and forest reforms to defend their rights to land and forest resources.

The team is professionally qualify to take up this solution. The team is made up of a a forest and GIS data manager with PhD, a forester, community mobiliser, agronomy, GIS technician, Jurist and Account/Finance staff all MSc holders. The the team is not only academically sound, they are also experienced within the domain of activities to be carried out. I and the team have over seven year experience working on similar solutions in communities and have close working relationship with the community people. We have organised series of training sessions with the communities and presently implementing part of the proposed solutions in the area and do have good working relationship with letter of collaboration signed by the association of traditional rulers in the area. 

A firm communication policy in institutionalise within our organisation that allows for effective information flow among personnel, as well as during designing, implementation and monitoring & evaluation of activities. The communication system have a community and other stakeholder complain and feedback mechanism put in place to permit good governance in the implementation of activities. 

There is need to share experiences of workable solutions from the different parts of the world to permit lessons to be learned from solutions that have succeeded and also create linkages that will lead to sustainable attainment of sustainable development goals in order to heal the mother earth from the advancing climate challenges. 

The solution am proposing is geared towards raising available resources (technical, material and financial) that will enable me and my team to solve the present climate change drivers in local communities and to help restore the degraded landscape and safe the intact rich carbon sink of the Ebo forest massif which is highly threatened by government and other community driven activities. 

Our approaches in community participatory mapping and land use planning process is new in the landscape and has been ongoing since January 2021. In addition, the systematic coordination among local community and civil society organisations as well as donors is a new approach we testing to reach a consensus among key stakeholders on the best options to sustainably manage the Ebo forest.

To contribute in biodiversity protection through implementing Nature-Based Solutions that integrates the ecological restoration of large scale landscapes.

Specifically strengthen

• zero deforestation agricultural production (cocoa, cassava and plantains) of small and medium-sized farms and the related value chains as well as the technical capacities of farmers, including youth and women and resilience to climate change;
• community participatory maps and land use plans integrating biodiversity footprint restoration opportunities taking into account the management of natural resources,
• the implementation of Communal Development Plan (CDP) and land use plan underpinning the restoration of degraded landscapes (farms) and sustainable management of the ecosystems.

- Number of community people reached with awareness raising messages through training / sensitisation workshops and environmental education in communities and schools. 

- Change in farming practices and the rate of usage of ecofarming systems 

- Number of communities that adhere to climate change activities 

- Number of community participatory maps and land use plans produced.

- Number of ha. of land and the number of trees growing and a description of the growing rate.

- Quantity of carbon stock calculated for the area.

- Number of multi-stakeholder meetings and decisions arrived at for the protection of the rich carbon sink.

- Level of adaptability of the theory of zero deforestation agriculture with the use of eco friendly approaches.  

- Adherence in the use of maps and land use plan for informed decision making on forest and lands by the administration and community people

- The rate of ecological restoration of the degraded ecosystems 

- Mindset transformation on matters related to climate change resilience and adaption. 

- Affective and integrated coordination of the management of the landscape. 

- Using workshops, meetings, flyers, poster, banners, seminar and media to raise awareness and build capacities of stakeholders. 

- Developing advocacy and rights defending tools as maps, documentations and documentaries. 

- Developing value chains for agricultural commodities using ecofriendly approaches. 

- Setting up and operationalizing multi-stakeholder dialogue platform on natural resources management issues for informed and inclusive decision making. 

- Using Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM) to attain restoration objectives. 

- Development and operationalization of open source data management app.

Before working in a community, we first of all consult the community sing the approach of Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) during which the different stakeholders and residents of a community are identified. the consent grant's us access to everybody in the community irrespective of class, age and sex. 

We use the principle of living no one behind. Our work in communities reaches out all classes of persons that inhabit the area. 

As such we organised focus group discussion, grant interviews, organise capacity workshops with specific target groups.

Services through awareness raising, capacity building, provision of tools and inputs, education by demonstration, linking farmers to buyers, developing maps and plans for the communities, setting up complain and feedback mechanism, documentation and sharing of information, setting of dialogue and monitoring systems and reporting are the model we put in place to render our services to the communities and partners.

We intern to source for grants and donations to finance this work. The finances raised will be accounted for by providing reports and conducting audits.

The most sustainable approach we have developed to get to financial sustainability is through building partnerships and expanding our networks. We have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) in Cameroon. We are registered and accredited members of some United Nations programs such as the UNFCCC, UNCCD, ECOSOC, and are registered members of the society for Ecological Restoration (SER), Member of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), member of some IUCN commissions, member of Conservation of Biological Diversity (CBD), and a host of other national and International networks and platforms.