On the networks side: RASTOMA
February 2019 – RASTOMA hosted a workshop on income-generating activities at the International Sea Turtle Symposium in Charleston, USA On February 3, Alexandre Girard, President of the Network of Actors for the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Central Africa (RASTOMA), led a workshop on income-generating activities and livelihoods for communities involved in marine turtle conservation. This workshop took place during the 39th International Symposium dedicated to the Conservation of Sea Turtles (International Sea Turtle Symposium, ISTS). Through this initiative, 26 conservation project leaders from various regions of the world were able to share for half a day and produce useful resources for members of the RASTOMA network. This was the second edition of the RASTOMA workshops at the ISTS. RASTOMA inaugurated this workshop concept bringing together actors from around the world last year, at the International Symposium held in Kobe, Japan, in 2018. The RASTOMA workshop was a great success and the room was quickly too small to accommodate all participants. This year in Charleston, South Carolina, we have had a bigger room. Another progress: we were able to film the presentations, which are now available online at rastoma.org. The program was rich and diverse. After an introduction by Alexandre Girard (RASTOMA), Brad Nahil, leader and founder of « SEE Turtles », an organization that develops vision tourism in connection with marine turtle projects, presented the interest and the possibilities of development of tourist programs for the benefit of communities in connection with conservation projects. Tushan Kapurusinghe, director of the Sri Lanka Turtle Conservation Program (TCP Sri Lanka), then gave us a real two-part Master Class on diversification of livelihood and income-generating activities, drawing on his experience as a program director and describing the concrete actions and (many!) approaches he is developing with Sri Lankan communities. Sabine Berendse closed the workshop by presenting the initiative of Curacao program, which innovates by producing souvenirs for tourists and utilitarian objects for communities from plastic waste collected on the nesting beaches of the Caribbean island of Curacao. The organization of this workshop is part of RASTOMA’s strategy to strengthen the capacity of its members in community-based approaches and income-generating activities related to marine and coastal conservation. To reach its goal, RASTOMA develop two parallel approaches: in our area of action in Central Africa, we list the actions developed by the NGO members of the network and we identify the factors of success and pitfalls to avoid, in order to make recommendations for members who wish to develop such activities to strengthen their community roots. In addition, we gather, through the international workshop organized at the ISTS, to capture the richness and diversity of approaches imagined by conservation stakeholders around the world. We are building a network of contacts and skills around the world, which we can mobilize at the request of RASTOMA members according to their needs. The final product of our local and international approaches is to make available resources for the benefit of members on the rastoma.org website: – the videos and slideshows of the workshop presentations which are sources of knowledge and information for members wishing to develop community approaches; – A directory of community actions in place in Central Africa and around the world, supplemented by a directory of resource persons who have developed expertise in the field. RASTOMA wishes to continue the experience next year by organizing a third workshop on community-based approaches to marine turtle conservation projects at the upcoming ISTS Symposium in Colombia. For more informations – RASTOMA’s website : http://www.rastoma.org/ – Presentation of the project lead by RASTOMA
News from the field: AMMCO
Humpback whales living on the coast of Cameroon AFRICAN MARINE MAMMALS CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION (AMMCO) is a Cameroonian NGO created in 2014 with the mission to sustainably protect the aquatic megafauna of this country. Less known and benefiting from less protective actions than terrestrial wildlife, it is not less present and highly threatened in this country, like the manatee, a species poached for its meat. Partner of the PPI since 2013, and having implemented a project to protect the manatees of the Lake Ossa Wildlife Reserve (RFLO), the NGO is working on a project to better understand the ecological and human dynamics in the littoral zone and coastal area north of Limbe, in the South West region. The objective of this project is, in the medium term, to have a better understanding of the dynamics underway in this area and thus to help stakeholders concerned by the issue to better understand the associated issues and thus make decisions allowing to sustainably manage the coastline of this region. As part of this project, relating to territorial governance, the AMMCO team, in collaboration with the MINFOF (Ministry of Forests and Wildlife), the Merchant Marine and the IRAD, was led to carry out ecological monitoring at sea with the aim of better understanding the wildlife dynamics in the area. It is clear that this follow-up was a wonderful surprise, with the confirmation of the presence of whales and dolphins, and only a few hundred meters away from the Cameroon coast. Thus, between the end of August and November, 4 observations of humpback whales, « Megaptera novaeangliae » were made. The individuals observed ranged between 13 and 14 meters, with a ventral portion, the undersides of the fins and whitish caudal fin, while the flanks and the dorsal part were darker. The existence of these cetaceans was reported by fishermen, but this is the first scientific observation. The expeditions also allowed to observe a female accompanied by her calf. Dolphins of the species « Tursiops Truncatus« , or even bottlenose dolphins have also been observed. Recognizable by their smooth, gray, metal-like skin and curved brow adorned with a melon, the species is present off Limbe. Previously, fishermen had reported their presence and in October, the AMMCO team was able to observe, again for the first time in a scientific perspective, a group made up of about fifty individuals, measuring between 2.5 and 3 meters. In addition to these « traditional » ecological monitoring aspects, in recent years AMMCO has developed a number of CITIZEN SCIENCE tools, which make it possible to collect information in a participatory manner on the distribution, dynamics and relative abundance of marine mammals including marine turtles. A mobile application, SIREN, has been developed by the NGO and is used by fishermen, scientists and other interested stakeholders to report opportunistic observations of aquatic megafauna. Each information stored in SIREN is automatically sent to the AMMCO server and appears on a map on the NGO’s website, once the data has been validated by the team of the NGO. Regarding the monitoring of the Cameroonian megafauna, the next step for the AMMCO team in the coming months is to continue this follow-up, and to intensify them from June to September, in order to continue studying the ecology of these species, estimating their abundance and identifying the main range. For more informations https://openexplorer.nationalgeographic.com/expedition/cameroonunderwatersea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yKUBkOOvmU https://ammco.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ammco.org?_rdc=1&_rdr – The AMMCO project presentation
Des nouvelles du terrain: AMMCO
Les Baleines à bosses, bien présentes sur la côte camerounaise AFRICAN MARINE MAMMALS CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION (AMMCO) est une ONG camerounaise créée en 2014 et ayant pour mission de protéger durablement la mégafaune aquatique de ce pays. Moins connue et bénéficiant de moins d’actions de protection que la faune terrestre, elle n’est pas moins présente et fortement menacée dans ce pays, à l’instar du lamantin, une espèce braconnée pour sa consommation en tant que viande de brousse. Partenaire du PPI depuis 2013, et après avoir mis en œuvre un projet de protection des lamantins de la Réserve de Faune du Lac Ossa (RFLO), l’ONG travaille sur un projet visant à mieux comprendre les dynamiques écologiques et humaines dans la zone littorale et côtière située au nord de Limbé, dans la région du Sud-Ouest. L’objectif de ce projet est, à moyen terme, d’avoir une meilleure compréhension des dynamiques en cours dans cette zone et ainsi d’aider les parties prenantes concernées par la question à mieux saisir les enjeux associés et ainsi de prendre des décisions permettant de gérer durablement le littoral de cette région. Dans le cadre de ce projet, ayant trait à la gouvernance territoriale, l’équipe d’AMMCO, en collaboration avec le MINFOF (Ministère des Forêts et de la Faune) ; la Marine Marchande et l’IRAD, a été amené à effectuer un suivi écologique en mer avec pour objectif de mieux comprendre les dynamiques fauniques dans la zone. Force est de constater que ce suivi a été une magnifique surprise, avec la confirmation de la présence de baleines et dauphins, et ce à quelques centaines de mètres à peine de la côte camerounaise. Ainsi, entre la fin du mois d’aout et du mois de novembre, 4 observations de baleines à bosses, Megaptera novaeangliae ont été effectuées. Les individus observés mesuraient entre 13 et 14 mètres, avec une partie ventrale, les dessous des nageoires et la nageoire caudale blanchâtres, tandis que les flancs et la partie dorsale étaient plus sombres. L’existence de ces cétacés était rapportée par des pêcheurs, mais il s’agit de la première observation à visée scientifique. Les expéditions ont également permis d’observer une femelle accompagnée de son baleineau. Des dauphins de l’espèce Tursiops Truncatus, ou encore grands dauphins ont également été observés. Reconnaissables à leur peau lisse, grise, semblable à du métal et leur front bombé orné d’un melon, l’espèce est présente au large de Limbé. Auparavant, des pêcheurs avaient signalé leur présence et en octobre, l’équipe d’AMMCO a pu observer, là encore pour la première fois dans une optique scientifique, un banc constitué d’une cinquantaine d’individus, mesurant entre 2.5 et 3 mètres. Outre ces aspects de suivi écologique « classiques », AMMCO a développé au cours des dernières années un certain nombre d’outils relevant de la CITIZEN SCIENCE, permettant de collecter de manière participative des informations relatives à la répartition, la dynamique et l’état d’abondance relative des mammifères marins dont les tortues marines. Une application mobile, SIREN, a ainsi été développée par l’ONG et est utilisée par pêcheurs, scientifiques et toutes autres parties prenantes intéressées, pour signaler des observations opportunistes de la mégafaune aquatique. Chaque information enregistré dans SIREN est automatiquement envoyée dans le serveur d’AMMCO et apparait ainsi sur une carte au sein du site de l’ONG, une fois la donnée validée par l’équipe de celle-ci. Concernant le suivi de la mégafaune aquatique camerounaise, la prochaine étape pour l’équipe d’AMMCO dans les mois à venir est de poursuivre ce suivi, et les intensifier de juin à septembre, et ce afin de continuer à étudier l’écologie de ces espèces, estimer leur abondance et identifier les principales aires de répartition. Plus d’informations https://openexplorer.nationalgeographic.com/expedition/cameroonunderwatersea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yKUBkOOvmU https://ammco.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ammco.org?_rdc=1&_rdr – La fiche de présentation du projet mené par AMMCO
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
On the networks side: RASTOMA
From November 27th to December 2nd, 2017, some 40 marine turtle conservation stakeholders gathered with the support of the PPI in Kribi, Cameroon, to participate in the second RASTOMA Regional Congress. Leaders of civil society organizations in Central Africa, academics, international experts, public and private decision-makers met to think collectively about marine turtle conservation issues in Central Africa. This gathering enabled RASTOMA members to draw up a long-term joint regional strategy based on (1) the building and animation of a global system of collecting, gathering and data valorization, and (2) the strategies elaboration for actions of the civil society in close connection with government commitments. For about thirty years, marine turtle conservation actions have been carried out by civil society organizations along the coast of Central Africa. In the early 2010s, field actors came together to create a regional network to share their knowledge, techniques and expertise to protect marine turtle populations and their habitats more effectively and sustainably. Thanks to the support of the PPI and IUCN, this dynamic materialized through the operation of the network in 2012, now present in the 6 countries of the region with a coast on the Atlantic: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (including the Bioko island), the islands of Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, Congo and the DRC. RASTOMA is currently a network of 9 civil society organizations and about 20 individual members working across the Atlantic coast of Central Africa to develop synergies between network members and to strengthen their capacity and influence to achieve sustainable conservation of marine turtles and their habitats in Central Africa. At the Congress, 3 new organizations announced their intention to join the network. The network was created by field actors to meet their needs for cohesion and to become a visible and recognized interlocutor with the institutions. It is based on democratic governance: each member is an actor in the life of the network and participates in decisions. To draw the future, each member is invited to express their expectations of RASTOMA and thus the contributions of each combine to achieve a collective vision shared by all members of the network. Decision-making is highly participatory, this dimension being an integral part of the network’s philosophy: ‘Together we can achieve much more!’ For more informations – RASTOMA’s website : http://www.rastoma.org/ – Presentation of the project lead by RASTOMA
Des nouvelles du terrain : Plateforme Tortues Marines Cameroun
Les 10 et 11 aout 2018, s’est tenue à Ebodjé, un petit village du littoral camerounais, la deuxième réunion de la « plateforme tortues marines camerounaise». Avec l’appui de l’UICN-PACO, via son Programme de Petites Initiatives (PPI) désormais dans sa cinquième phase, et du Réseau des Acteurs de la Sauvegarde des Tortues Marines en Afrique Centrale (RASTOMA), cette plateforme constitue une importante innovation institutionnelle à l’échelle du Cameroun, de par sa dimension collaborative et intégrée. Cette plateforme de concertation est constituée de 4 ONG camerounaises travaillant toutes sur la question de la protection des tortues marines au Cameroun (ACBM, AMMCO, KUDATUBE et TUBE AWU), la plupart d’entre-elles étant ou ayant été partenaires du PPI. Ce réseau naissant vise à soutenir la collaboration entre ces acteurs, notamment dans une optique d’harmonisation des pratiques mais également d’influence des politiques publiques en matière d’aménagement marin et côtier et ce notamment via la production d’un rapport national tortue marine à l’issue de chaque saison des pontes. Deux réunions biannuelles sont désormais prévues, une avant et une à l’issue de chaque saison des pontes. La prochaine réunion de la plateforme est prévue pour avril 2019. Pour en savoir plus : alexandre.girard@rastoma.org