PPI Partner: CEPF
The Partnership Fund for Critical Ecosystems (www.cepf.net) is a joint initiative of the French Development Agency, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. A fundamental goal of CEPF is to enable, through the providing of grants, the civil society to engage in the conservation of the most endangered terrestrial biological resources, known as biodiversity hotspots. In the Guinean Forests Biodiversity Hotspot of West Africa, which extends from southern Guinea to northwestern Cameroon via the Gulf of Guinea islands, the CEPF strategy aims to provide technical and financial means to local, regional, national and international civil society organizations to establish cross-sectoral and cross-border long-term partnerships. CEPF wants these beneficiaries to demonstrate models that combine biodiversity conservation with sustainable socio-economic development. In particular, CEPF’s investment (USD 9 million from 2016 to 2021) aims to: Allow at least 60 local communities to sustainably manage certain priority sites and / or consolidate ecological connectivity at a landscape level ; Target at least 20 Biodiversity Key Areas and 100,000 hectares of production landscapes for better conservation or sustainable use of biodiversity ; Incorporate biodiversity conservation provisions into public policies and / or private sector practices into at least 6 conservation corridors ; Stabilize or increase the populations of at least 30 globally threatened species ; Create at least 15 networks between civil society actors, governments and the private sector to maximize the positive impact on biodiversity ; Improve the organizational capacity of at least 50 civil society organizations. In this hotspot, CEPF entrusted BirdLife International with the responsibility of the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) to provide strategic leadership for its investment. Together, USD 1.7 million grants had been already awarded to 14 organizations. The coming months will focus on the awarding of new grants following the call for proposals closed at the end of 2017, as well as a call for proposals for a mentoring initiative, at the national level, where international organizations having proven capabilities in specific areas can provide relevant guidance to local organizations (including CEPF beneficiaries) in the medium term. CEPF also wished to join the Alliance around the PPI in order to pool resources, create synergies and capitalize on the emergence of environmental organizations that bring changes and innovations, working together to influence public policies and private sector actors in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. For more informations : https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/guinean-forests-west-africa
Interview of Osiris Doumbé, SEKAKOH
Osiris, tell us a little bit about the history of SEKAKOH and its creation: what is the ‘raison d’être’ of the organization, its genesis and what is the name of the NGO standing for? Everything started from the Ellioti Project. The goal of this project that I launched in 2013 was to conduct a study on the distribution of the rarest and least known of the chimpanzees, the Elliot chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti), and to study the diversity of the monkeys of the North West Cameroon region. This region is highly anthropized, and there are not enough conservation projects. In addition to the scientific aspect, we had an approach of sensitizing the inhabitants of the villages surrounding the last fragments of forest, in more or less direct contact with the chimpanzees. After two years of study and walking in the North West, I created with environment passionates friends SEKAKOH, to continue the efforts garnered by the project. The goals of SEKAKOH are to protect wild animals and their habitats while helping people to use their resources sustainably. SEKAKOH means « remember them » in Balikumbat, a language of North West Cameroon. The NGO’s logo is a black rhinoceros from West Africa – a subspecies whose last individuals are now extinct in Cameroon. It is painted in white, the color of mourning in this country. Since the beginning of the activities, what were your priorities? What actions have already been taken and which ones are you the most happy and proud of? Since 2015, within SEKAKOH we have mainly worked in the Kom forest, in the Department of Boyo, about twenty kilometers from Bamenda. This small forest located in the low mountains along the Bamenda mountain range is home to at least two groups of chimpanzees and 12 other primates according to our studies. Ethnobotanical research has enabled us to highlight more than 90 species of plants used by the inhabitants of the four surrounding villages for food, medicine, timber, and firewood. Even if so far we have favored research, we have not neglected the relationship with local communities with whom we maintain good relations through awareness activities (distribution of school books on the Cameroonian environment) and development (construction of improved ovens and donation of mill to grind corn kernels). I think that the activity that personally made me most proud was the donation of the mill to the village of Baiso. This machine allowed the villagers to stop having to send their children to Fundong (several kilometers from Baiso) to grind corn kernels, the staple food of the region. What are the current prospects for the year 2018? What particularly exciting activities do you plan to implement? For 2018, SEKAKOH has several planned activities at Kom, the largest part funded by PPI-5. These activities will be developed in collaboration with another NGO, SURUDEV, which will bring its expertise in agroforestry. Within SEKAKOH, we will continue our research with special emphasis on plant diversity and chimpanzee feeding. In addition to this, we have planned to build a research center, which will allow scientists to have a place to stay and rest in this isolated village, close to the forest. In addition, we will start a reforestation project at the edge of the forest, very exciting in my opinion. Indeed, the issue of reforesting tropical forests is often debated but rarely effective in the field, especially because of seasonal bush fires. We hope to innovate and find a sustainable solution, allowing to plant various species of trees useful to both men and primates of the forest. A word about the civil society… What do you think about its role in the ongoing struggle to protect African biodiversity and save some emblematic species, such as the chimpanzee Nigeria-Cameroon? The civil society is very important for the conservation of the environment and endangered species. It has proven its usefulness many times. A good example is ERuDEF, in South-West Cameroon, which has been the mastermind behind the creation process of the Tofala Hills Sanctuary, a Protected Area where Cross River gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli), critically endangered species, live, as well as Elliot Chimpanzees. Cameroon is fortunate to have an active civil society and it is an asset that the country should use wisely, especially for the protection of P. t. ellioti. With probably less than 6,000 individuals in the world, and probably no more than 4,000 in Cameroon, this subspecies of chimpanzees is a regional wealth that we must save. Unfortunately, Cameroon’s Ministry of Forests and Wildlife has too little budget to effectively protect biodiversity at the national level. Thus, who other than the civil societies, close to local communities who share their environment with chimpanzees, can work with them and promote this behavioral change that would give future generations a chance to freely observe their closest cousins in the nature. Plus d’informations – SEKAKOH’s website : https://sekakoh.org – Presentation of the project lead by SEKAKOH et SURUDEV
News from the field : Cameroon Marine Turtles Platform
On August 10th and 11th, 2018, was held in Ebodje, a small village on the Cameroonian coast, the second meeting of the « Cameroon Marine Turtle Platform ». With the support of the IUCN-PACO, through its Small-Scale Initiatives Program (PPI) now in its fifth phase, and the Network of Actors for the Conservation of Marine Turtles in Central Africa (RASTOMA), this platform constitutes an important institutional innovation throughout Cameroon, through its collaborative and integrated dimension. This consultation platform is made up of 4 Cameroonian NGOs all working on the issue of marine turtle protection in Cameroon (ACBM, AMMCO, KUDATUBE and TUBE AWU), most of them being or having been partners of the PPI. This newborn network aims to support collaboration between these actors, particularly with a view to harmonizing practices but also influencing public policies in terms of marine and coastal development, particularly through the production of a national marine turtle report at the end of each season of laying. Two biannual meetings are now scheduled, one before and one at the end of each season of laying. The next platform meeting is scheduled for April 2019. For more informations : alexandre.girard@rastoma.org
On the networks side: AGSAC
SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALLIANCE GSAC – MOUKALABA DOUDOU NATIONAL PARK On June 6, 2018, the Third General Assembly (GA) of the Alliance for the Conservation of Great Apes in Central Africa (Alliance-GSAC) was held. Launched in 2016 with the support of the IUCN-PACO through the PPI and now legalized as an association in Cameroonian law, this collaborative dynamic between NGOs currently brings together 6 civil society organizations from 4 Congo Basin countries (Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, DRC). This network aims to strengthen the capacities of its members, as well as their political legitimacy at the sub-regional and international levels, while seeking to support the implementation of concrete actions on the ground. After a first constitutive GA held in Limbé (Cameroon) in October 2016, a second in the North of the Dja Biosphere Reserve (Cameroon), on the field site of the NGO member TF-RD, this third GA of the network was held in the Moukalaba Doudou National Park, in southern Gabon, on the intervention site of the NGO PROGRAM. This site is exceptional because of its high density of western lowland gorillas. The holding of the GA, whose organization was supported by the PPI-PACO, was the occasion to undertake a complete assessment of the activities of the past year and the partnership perspectives in progress. It also made it possible to discuss more strategic aspects such as the strategic plan of the network for the period 2018-2021, the ethical bases and criteria of good associative governance to be respected by the members of the network. A new board was also elected during the event. For more information : alliancegsac@gmail.com – Presentation of the project lead by AGSAC
Interview de Maximin Djondo, BEES
Maximin, pouvez-vous nous présenter votre organisation et nous donner quelques informations sur ses principales réalisations ? BEES, qui veut dire Benin Environment and Education Society, est une ONG reconnue officiellement en 2009 et visant la mise en œuvre de programmes de développement local basés sur la valorisation durable de la biodiversité au Bénin. A cet effet, l’ONG a travaillé à la protection de la sous-espèce endémique du singe à ventre rouge (Cercopithecus erythrogaster) à travers la mise en place de circuits écotouristiques gérés par les communautés. Aussi, l’organisation développe un projet dit « Route des oiseaux du Bénin » qui vise la mise en place de circuits ornithologiques. Sur le plan sous régional, notre organisation œuvre à l’intégration de l’approche de l’adaptation basée sur les écosystèmes dans les politiques nationales de développement. Votre organisation vient de bénéficier d’une subvention du PPI.5. Quels sont les objectifs visés par ce projet ? Le bas delta de l’Ouémé ou le complexe « Grand Nokoué » du site RAMSAR 1018 est le plus important complexe humide du Bénin en termes de diversité biologique. Cependant, les pratiques peu durables d’exploitation des ressources naturelles par une population en croissance continue font planer un risque majeur sur l’intégrité du complexe et des services écologiques rendus. Le projet d’appui à la création de la Réserve Intercommunale du Grand Nokoué vise à renforcer la préservation de l’intégrité territoriale de la réserve. Ainsi, il est prévu la mise en place de dispositifs de gouvernance plus inclusifs et participatifs. Aussi, l’efficacité de la gestion de la réserve sera renforcée et l’offre écotouristique améliorée. Selon vous, quels leviers devraient être actionnés pour favoriser un effet démultiplicateur des bonnes pratiques promues dans le cadre de vos interventions ? L’appropriation des acquis des projets par les communautés constitue une des clefs de la pérennisation et de la large diffusion des bonnes pratiques. Notre organisation travaille donc à faire des bénéficiaires de nos projets les acteurs des changements souhaités. Ces leaders ainsi promus seront en mesure de prendre en charge la formation des paires et la dissémination des solutions développées localement. Aussi, il est important que les organisations se dotent d’une stratégie de communication qui constitue un autre moyen efficace de promotion des résultats et de visibilité. Quelles sont vos perspectives pour la pérennisation des acquis sur le terrain ? Le renforcement des capacités des acteurs impliqués dans le projet constitue une garantie d’autonomisation des acteurs mais aussi gage de pérennité. La possibilité de création d’emplois verts et de revenus additionnels constitue une excellente motivation susceptible de soutenir l’appropriation du projet par les bénéficiaires. De même, nous espérons lever des financements complémentaires pour traiter de manière intégrée la question de la conservation des ressources de la réserve. Plus d’informations – Site internet de BEES : https://bees-ong.org – La fiche de présentation du projet mené par BEES