Conserving biodiversity to create wealth for poverty alleviation

The Bachuo'ntai forest, a vast expanse of largely primary forest located in the northern part (Manyu Division) of the South West Province of Cameroon is under threat due to the negative impacts of human activities. This proposed programme is aimed at tackling biodiversity loss in the Bachuo'ntai forest by empowering local people to adopt livelihood improvement strategies that support conservation through the wise management and rational use of forest resources. We expect to use IUCN NL's support to carry out activities with the local population that would play the dual role of satisfying their felt cultural, economic and social needs while at the same time satisfying conservation concerns. In order to generate information on which to base management decisions, the programme will involve an initial rapid biological assessment, followed by sensitising public opinion about the conservation potentials of the forest, drawing up a Participatory Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihoods Strategy (PBCLS) for the area, and the implementation of conservation-friendly activities. These activities would be in the domain of food security and income generation through NTFP management.

The project has been implemented successfully. Rapid surveys on biodiversity and socio-economy generated data that were not hitherto available, and through environmental education, knowledge and valuable skills were shared. These data constitute the basis for future management decisions. The demarcation exercise concluded that 237,000 ha should be proposed as a community forest, while an area of 85,000 ha cutting across the 5 village boundaries would be carved out for conservation. A Participatory Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihoods Strategy (PBCLS) document was prepared in a participatory workshop. This document is meant to guide future sustainable development interventions.