Mak-Betchou Sanctuary now an economic gain to community

Communities around the proposed Mak-Betchou Chimpanzee Sanctuary have been reaping some livelihood and economic benefits since its inception. From the beginning of the creation process, some locals who were formerly involved in hunting have been recruited as biomonitors to collect data on wildlife species and others work in the capacity of field guides. Other developmental ventures have included the donation of a palm oil mill to facilitate the process of palm oil production and step up quality.

Community members have also gained skills in microcredit and self-financing and other alternative livelihood and income generating projects, agro-forestry etc.

Most of the people targeted to benefit from this largesse are hunters, trappers, farmers and youths who solely depend on the forest for a living. This is because their activities have a direct impact on the biodiversity thus building their skills and capacity is intended to divert their attention from the forest. It is equally hoped that the beneficiaries will pass on to friends, children and generations who will use them to improve on their livelihood.

Beyond the provision of livestock (piglets) and beehives, ERuDeF's alternative income and livelihood programs include; sensitization, identification, training, support and workshops to ensure long term sustainable solutions to economic challenges and to put to zero the hunting and killing of protected wildlife in the Mak-Betchou wildlife sanctuary.

The result is educated, sensitized and trained community members that are more equipped to lift themselves out of poverty and forest related activities.

After building community members knowledge on alternative income generating activities in the areas of livelihood donations, Microcredit development, a saving and loan scheme (BCT) for self financing and long term sustainability, the people are now acting as ambassadors for the future generation.

It is hoped that over time, the impact will result in activities that will bring about growth in annual household incomes resulting to an increase household savings that will intend lead to improvement in the standards of living, health, welfare of families and the entire community.

Reacting to the training and livelihood support, a villager in Andu, one of the villages bordering the proposed sanctuary said "I received pigs from ERuDeF and I have been able to sell the young ones to put food on the table."

It is hoped that at the end of the program, all the village adjacent communities will completely divert from total dependence on the forest to engage in an income generating activity. The overall impact is that it will lead to increase population of protected and threatened wildlife species, self-sufficiency, sustainability, cost effectiveness and an increase in their standard of living and that of their family members and of course the community at large.