Cameroon's population is over 18 million people, of which over fifty percent is rural. Nearly fifty percent of the rural population is living in poverty. The majority of the people live in or around the country's 22 million hectares of forest. The people living in these areas are dependent on the forest resources for their livelihoods. Read more . . .
Our Response
The TREES Cameroon program’s efforts focus on the Western Highlands of Cameroon (in the
Southwest, Western and Northwest regions). TREES is working with rural farmers develop
sustainable land-use practices which are beneficial to the environment and improve the lives of
the people involved. Read more . . .
Program Update
Coordinator Louis Nkembi with his assistant Neba Kingsly and other technicians worked with all of the 171 farming cooperatives to plant two million trees in 2010! Over 2000 people are benefiting from the program and it is continuing to expand into new areas in order to meet the needs of surrounding communities. Read more . . .
Overview of Social and Environmental Issues
Cameroon's population is over 18 million people, of which over fifty percent is rural. Nearly fifty percent of the rural population is living in poverty. The majority of the people live in or around the country's 22 million hectares of forest. The people living in these areas are dependent on the forest resources for their livelihoods. Most of the wood harvested in Cameroon's forests is used to meet local energy needs. However, over 80% of the forests are under some type of allocation to the timber companies, as the logging industry forms a large portion of the backbone of Cameroon's economy. Therefore, the heavy degradation resulting from the industrial logging taking place in Cameroon often conflicts with the livelihoods of the local people. However, following numerous policy reforms in the mid-1990s, Cameroon has moved towards a more equitable system of sharing its natural resources.
Farmers who grow their food and cash crops here are often extremely poor and have been pushed out of the fertile countryside. These men and women are removing the last remnants of forest which leaves the mountainsides more vulnerable to erosion. The consequences of this have been dire. The removal of productive forest has resulted in substantial loss of biodiversity and native plant and animal habitat, as well as resulted in loss of life and property for marginalized rural communities. The Western Cameroon Highlands has over 900 bird species, 50 of which are endemic to the Afromontane highlands, and 15 which are globally threatened. The Bamenda Highlands to the north are the only place on earth the Bannerman's Turaco and Banded Wattle-eye bird species are found. Endangered primates such as chimpanzee, drill and gorilla also live in the forested highlands, and are extremely sensitive to human development and habitat fragmentation. These animal species depend in large part on the watersheds that give rise to life-giving rivers, such as the Cross River in the Southwest Province.
Our Response
The TREES Cameroon program's efforts focus on the Western Highlands of Cameroon (in the
Southwest, Western and Northwest regions). TREES is working with rural farmers develop
sustainable land-use practices which are beneficial to the environment and improve the lives of
the people involved. Farmers are planting trees to improve the soil and their crop yields, and
protect the land against further erosions. As well, with trees, many farmers are developing
income generating activities such as livestock raising, honey production, and fruit production.
TREES is also developing the Center for Agroforestry Training and Seed Production in
Liebialem.
February 2011
Coordinator Louis Nkembi with his assistant Neba Kingsly and other technicians worked with all of the 171 farming cooperatives to plant two million trees in 2010! Over 2000 people are benefiting from the program and it is continuing to expand into new areas in order to meet the needs of surrounding communities. With TREES’s guidance, farmers are developing income generating activities integrated with the tree planting such as producing honey, raising livestock, and gardening. In addition, Louis and his team are continuing to develop the agroforestry training and seed production center in Lebialem which will serve as a center for operations of the region.
TREES is developing strong partnerships which will greatly benefit the program going into 2011. TREES recently established a formal partnership with Peace Corp Cameroon. Louis will assist in the agroforestry training of volunteers. The volunteers will then work with communities to develop agroforestry projects supported by TREES. TREES has also established a major partnership with Cameroon’s Ministry of Forests to develop a tree planting program in the Mt. Bamboutos watershed in the Western Province. The program works with farmers to promote the use of sound agroforestry techniques to replace the chemical fertilizers used to farm crops such as Irish potatoes.
Cameroonian Non governmental organizations
Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) - TREES Cameroon Focal Point
Association of Women in Development (ASWEEDEV), Lebialem Division
Catholic Seminary Training Center Nkongsamba, Moungo Division
Center for Rural Development and Agroforestry (CIRDAF), Boyo Division
Centre for Agroforestry Development in Cameroon (CAFDEC), Meme Division
COOPEBA, Agroforestry farmers network, Bamboutos Division
Dynamic Action Group (DAG), Fako Division
Environmental Initiatives in Cameroon (EMNICAM), Ngoketunjia Division
Food and Rural Development Foundation (FORUDEF), Manyu Division
Haut Nkam Agroforestry farmers Network (RAGAF), Haut Nkam Division
Lebialem Agroforestry Farmers Network, Lebialem Division
Menoua Agroforestry Farmers Network, Menoua Division
National Development Foundation Cameroon (NDEF Cameroon), Menchum Division
Ndian Agroforestry farmers Network, Ndian Division
Regional Centre for Community Development (RECODEV), Kupe, Muanenguba Division
Society for Initiatives in Base Development Foundation (SIBADEF), Mezam Division
Society for Initiatives in Rural Development and Environmental Protection (SIRDEP), Donga-Mantung & Momo Divisions
Government
Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife of Cameroon (MINFOF)
Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV)
