Virginia’s Dream – Forest Conservation Project in Cameroon

OIPA Cameroon launches a project in memory of Virginia, conservation hero

Unfortunately, our friend and colleague Virginia left this world far too soon. She was a great animal rights activist who always had the courage to stand up for her beliefs. She was a strong young woman who dedicated her life to animals.

Her family and friends launched a fundraising campaign on FB in her memory. Thanks to this campaign, 6.000 euros have been collected. This amount is going to be used for the implementation of a forestry conservation project in Cameroon. 

While working as International relations officer at OIPA, Virginia collaborated closely with the OIPA delegation in Cameroon for the realization of a project aimed at the protection of wildlife species.

Thanks to those of you who gave their contribution to the realization of the 4-years project “Virginia’s dream”. We are immensely grateful for each person’s contribution to the realization of this beautiful initiative and we are happy to announce that now that the needed amount of money has been collected, the project can flow on its own and does not require further donations to do so.

The project

The Chomba Community-based Forest Conservation project “Virginia’s Dream” is a community-focused initiative that aims to improve water access through the planting of a thousand water friendly and economic trees and the monitoring of their growth. It focuses on working with nature to reverse catchment area degradation by engaging the Chomba community to establish catchment forests for water access and to protect biodiversity and wildlife.

The project aims at saving animals through the rescue of their natural habitat. The Chomba forest is an area of high biodiversity; however, many species are in danger of extinction. The project will provide clean water habitats for the widest variety of freshwater plants and animals, including many endangered species.

Main activities:

Training on forest conservation

The first phase of this project shall consist in a capacity-building workshop with the community and 10 youths on the best tree planting techniques, treatment, bio-monitoring and sustainable forest management approaches towards the conservation of the forest.

Planting 800 trees in degraded portions of the water points and/or catchments

The next steps will be land preparation, involving clearing and the digging of 800 holes for tree planting. These activities will be implemented in close collaboration with the Chomba community and a delegation from the Ministry of Forestry and Environment.

In addition, organic fertilizers will be applied to the dug holes using the technique of mulching, in order to ensure the environment benign growth of these trees. It is worth noting that the community shall assist in the execution of this phase.

The trained youths and the community will then plant 800 water-loving trees.

After the successful tree planting, fire boundaries will be created to protect the project area from possible bushfires.

Environmental education and sensitization in schools

Environmental awareness activities will take place in two schools. Children will be sensitized on the importance of wildlife habitats, the reasons why to conserve them and the best ways to ensure a sustainable forestry and biodiversity conservation. Lessons will be supported by outdoor activities and the creation of environment clubs.

Participatory follow-up and supervision of planted trees

Trained community’s youth will take care of the planted trees for 4 years.

The project shall end with a closing ceremony attended by the community and other institutional and non-institutional stakeholders.

200 trees have already been planted as donation by OIPA Cameroon and other private and public donors… Virginia’s Dream project has reached 1.000 trees!!

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED)

First held in 1974, it has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.

The theme for 2018 is BEATING PLASTIC POLLUTION.

In April 2014, the government of Cameroon placed a ban on the importation, production and sale of non-biodegradable plastics. However, despite incessant sensitization and repressive measures by the government, the banned products are still very much in circulation. The population, for its part, says that thee sustainable alternatives promised by the government are still not available.

This year, OIPA CAMEROON in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature Sustainable Development of Cameroon carried out a number of activities to celebrate this day:

• OIPA volunteers visited the loan waste dumping site of the North West region together with the Ministry of Environment.
• The Greens, OIPA Cameroon and other NGOs, met with HYSACAM, the waste management company and discussed on how to manage plastic waste in the region. 
• OIPA Cameroon team engaged in the collection of plastic waste with the dual purpose of cleaning the streets and sensitizing the population.
• In partnership with the Ministry of Environment and other local associations, OIPA Cameroon held a press conference at the regional headquarter of the Ministry of Environment. This year’s theme is very urgent as Cameroon is facing challenges in the management of public waste. OIPA Cameroon took this opportunity to stress the important role that animals play in the protection of the environment. The Regional delegate for the Environment, on his part, thanked OIPA Cameroon for its significant contribution in the fight against climate change in the country, especially thanks to the Chomba Community Forest Conservation Project, which is also promoting animal welfare and environmental education in rural communities. Both public and private media covered the event, and it represented a great opportunity to educate Cameroonians on the negative effects of plastic on our environment, the marine world and biodiversity. Pupils from selected primary and secondary schools and university students took part to the event. On behalf of the Minister, the regional delegate Mr. Muma Henry thanked all participants and especially OIPA International for the collaboration in the weeklong activities in occasion of the World Environment Day.

HELP US MAKE CAMEROON PLASTIC FREE! MAKE A DONATION TO OIPA CAMEROON

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CELEBRATING THE 25th YEAR OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This year’s IDB theme will be “Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity”.

In partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, OIPA Cameroon has carried out a week of activities such as radio talks and debates to commemorate this day.

The activities culminated with the planting of over 200 “water-friendly” trees in the Chomba Community Forest. The aim was to restore the habitat for wildlife species, improve water quality and quantity and combat climate change.

Since the launching of the Chomba Community Forest Conservation Project at the beginning of 2018 more than 800 trees have been planted.

The project positively affects the neighboring villages too, such as Mbatu and Nsogwa. This whole area has been damaged by human activities ranging from farming to grazing. Forest loss leads to a shortage of water supply, soil degradation and climate imbalance. Forests provide wildlife habitat and play important economic, social, and cultural roles in the lives of many indigenous communities. Therefore, forests and forest biological diversity are innately linked to ecosystem and human well-being. However, involving communities in forest conservation is a major factor that will contribute to sustainable forest management. On this note, OIPA Cameroon plans to organize a workshop that will empower the primary and secondary school teachers in all the schools in Chomba, Mbatu and Nsongwa with substantial skills on how to sensitize children on animal welfare and environmental protection.

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The project has the overall objective to restoring wildlife habitat and improving water quantity and quality for the community principally through tree-planting in the Chomba community forest.

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On January 3, 2018, the International representative of OIPA in Cameroon made a tour alongside the Regional Delegate for Environment, Professor Chongwa and the village elders. The aim was to map out where to plant 10.000 trees.

To meet this end, a series of meetings was held between technicians, the Regional Delegate for Environment and OIPA volunteers.

The International Representative of OIPA in Cameroon then presented a briefing of the project to the Council of the Elders of the Chomba community at the Chomba Fon’s Palace. The community warmly welcomed the project idea and the elders promised to collaborate with the project’s goals encouraging the participation of young people community to volunteer to the tree-planting exercise scheduled to start by March 2018.

            Main activities

• Educating the local population on forest conservation, biodiversity, eco-system and clean environment issues through preparatory meetings with the quarter and village councils, schools, community and religious groups and municipal authorities;
• Dissemination of information through posters, flyers, regular radio programs, newspapers articles and television programs;
• Mapping of the area and apportioning section for various activities such as fire boundaries, creating passages, paths, roads and corridors in the forest;
• Planting/replanting of trees (afforestation and reforestation) in Atualah Water Catchment Area- Chomba (10.000 trees);
• Creation of a nursery;
• Put up sign posts and bill boards to commemorate one of OIPA’s supporters;
• In the long term, transform the area into an eco-touristic site.

Launching of the project

The project was launched on Saturday March 17, 2018.

Attending the ceremony were:

Mr. Moma Henry Awah, the Regional Delegate for Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development for the North West Region of Cameroon;

HRH King Martin Buzie Asanji FORBUZIE II of Chomba;

Members of Chomba Traditional Council;

Other invited guests;

the Chomba community (ca. 100 people).

The project site (Atualah Water Catchment Area Chomba) is about 5 km from the Fon’s Palace. The whole community undertook a 2-hour hiking expedition with great enthusiasm.

Once arrived at the project site, the inauguration ceremony opened with a prayer from one of the elders in the community.

In his welcome speech, the International Representative of OIPA in Cameroon, Mr Che Gilbert Ayunwi expressed his happiness to see the strong participation of the community in the realization of the project and thanked the Fon of Chomba, the members of Chomba Traditional Council and Chomba community for their collaboration with OIPA.

He particularly welcomed the presence of the Regional Delegate for Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development for the Northwest Region of Cameroon, Mr. Moma Henry Awah for his overall contribution to the project.

Mr Che Gilbert Ayunwi made special remarks and thanked Gabriella, who is the main donor of the over 10.000 trees in memory of her parents Francesca Alberti Tassinari and Guido Tassinari. On this note he asked for one minute of silence to commemorate them.

On behalf of OIPA, he promised to work in collaboration with the community in order to conserve and restore the forest ecosystems and the animal populations.

The Project Coordinator for OIPA in Cameroon, Dr Tening Aaron Suh, said he was optimistic the project would help to address some of the major challenges in forest conservation and stressed the importance of afforestation both for people living around forested areas and for the conservation of biological diversity.

In particular, he acknowledged the role of afforestation in the improvement of soil structure that will enhance the functioning of soil organisms and increase the capacity of soil to retain more water within the water catchment area. At this end, he called on everyone to play a big role in protecting the young trees and.

In his speech, the representative of the Chomba community promised the community’s full loyalty to this kind gesture by OIPA.

The Regional Delegate for Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development for the Northwest Region of Cameroon, Mr. Moma Henry Awah acknowledged “this giant step taken by OIPA to plant trees around the Chomba water catchment area”. He pointed out that tree planting is an act of faith in the future of our environment, an incentive for progress and the fight against climate change which goes with the slogan “Think globally and act locally”. Consequently, the fundamental role of the rural population in the fight against climate change is enormous. He also stated that “this project is the icing of the cake and it will not only benefit animals but will also benefit humans and nature” and he promised the full support of the Government of Cameroon and his Ministry in particular.

It was at this point that he officially inaugurated the “Chomba Community Forest Conservation Project” by planting the first tree. This paved the way to the start of the tree-planting activities, in which all the community took part in.

The launching ceremony continued with group photographs at the project site and at the Fon’s Palace.

The launching ended with light refreshments and closing remarks were given by the International Representative of OIPA in Cameroon. For the more than 100 people who attended this event, it was a day of joy and celebration in Chomba.

The Bamenda Highlands region was once largely covered with montane forests. Over time, the forests were progressively cleared.

Although deforestation is mainly a result of land being converted for agricultural purposes, the causes and nature of deforestation are often complex and may vary significantly from country to country. International efforts towards increasing sustainable forest management in developing countries have proven difficult, and attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions add another layer of complexity. In the Bamenda Highlands region deforestation has rapidly increased over the last decades as a combined effect of growing population, declining economic conditions, decreasing soil fertility and an increase in the demand for new farmland.

Despite these interests, the local population understands the importance of the montane forests: the forests act as watersheds for many of the watercourses of the region, they are fundamental for important resources such fuelwood, medicines and honey, and they also have a significant cultural and spiritual value.

Today in the Bamenda Highlands region, there are only patches left, which are recognized as important centres of endemism, containing significant numbers of birds, animals and plants that are found nowhere else in the world.

The awareness of the importance that forests have for the ecosystem and for the life of local population favoured the spreading, in recent years, of the concept of community forestry in the academic and development circles in Cameroon as an appropriate model for pro-poor and pro-forest development.

One of the goals of OIPA International Organization for Animal Protection is to ensure collaborative actions in communities with vast ecological diversities and contribute to environmental protection through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while maintaining and improving sustainable forest management.

The Chomba community forest

Chomba is a village located 6 km outside Bamenda town in Northwest Cameroon, a high grassland area with mountains, forest, plateaus and powerful waterfalls.

The population of Chomba practices subsistence agriculture, that has negative-side effects on the forest environment such as the reduction in number or even in some cases the disappearance of animal and plant species, destroyed water sheds and a drastic reduction in the highland forest landscape area. Climate change is also negatively affecting the area as the higher temperature era causing an ecological imbalance or disequilibrium in the forest.

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L'articolo LAUNCHING OF THE “CHOMBA COMMUNITY FOREST CONSERVATION PROJECT” IN THE NORTHWEST REGION OF CAMEROON proviene da OIPA.