FCFA 1.7 Billion For Conservation Projects In South West

Environmental, agricultural and livestock experts have drawn up sustainable farming methods and critical habitat management for effective biodiversity conservation in the Bakossi National Park and the Bayang Mbo sanctuary in the South West Region. This was during a two-day inception workshop held in Limbe on the July 3-4, 2013, organised by the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development and the University of Dschang in collaboration with Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and its implementing partner, Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERUDEF).

The workshop was aimed at setting the basis for sustainable development project entitled "Sustainable farming and critical habitat conservation to achieve biodiversity mainstreaming and protected areas management effectiveness in Western Cameroon (SUFACHAC)."

Officially opening the workshop, the Head of Division for Regional Development at the South West Governor's office, Nkenfack Fabien, stated that environmental conservation issues have become integral parts of all development policies. Through biodiversity conservation which would ensure environmental equilibrium, benefits from eco-tourism and other ecosystems services, the population of the project areas, through good farming practices, he said, would reap quality and quantitative produce which ameliorate their revenue.

An official of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Adamou Bouhari asserted that environmental conservation and protection should be one of the key aspects of development including agricultural development. Expressing gratitude to the Cameroon government for the confidence bestowed on UNEP, he said about 70 per cent of the FCFA 1.7 billion project would be dedicated to support community-based conservation activities.

To the Fauna and Flora International Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Rob Brett, the primary objective of every conservation project is community involvement in the plans of the conservation activities which will have some benefits through the design of the project.