Some villages in the south region of Cameroon have opted for the promotion of ecotourism as a way to preserve their forest reserves while fighting against poverty.
Toute l'actu sur la protection de l'environnement
Some villages in the south region of Cameroon have opted for the promotion of ecotourism as a way to preserve their forest reserves while fighting against poverty.
The eco friendly approach is being experienced in Campo, one of the biggest subdivisions in the south region that shares border with Equatorial Guinea. The municipality shares a vast coastal line with the Atlantic Ocean and a dense forest reserve which is being threatened by mass illegal deforestation and exploitation. Every year, thousands of cubic meters of wood species come out of the tropical forest in logs, cants and planks to reach to Kribi or Douala, where they will be either sold or shipped to Europe or Asia. According to the National Agency for Financial Investigation ANIF, both foreign and local logging companies are at the maneuver of this activity which causes the State of Cameroon to lose about 33 billion CFA francs each year. Added to this is the fact that the non-recommended activity does not benefit the affected communities. The fight against this phenomenon in recent years with the advocacy of environmental NGOs has begun bearing fruits. Thanks to the concept of sea turtle ecotourism in Ebodje for instance, the villagers have come to realize that illegal logging has decreased in their village.
Ebodje, haven for sea turtle
Ebodje is a small village of more than 1000 inhabitants, watered by the Atlantic Ocean. Each year between the months of August and March, period dedicated to egg-laying by the female turtles, the village registers a large number of tourists. “Sea turtle ecotourism has changed Ebodje,” says Oscar, a local resident. “In this village, there are several young people who have finished their secondary education thanks to the sponsorship system’’ he adds. A fisherman who catches a turtle, hands it over to the tourist. The latter takes care of the protected specie and releases it into the sea. In return, the tourist sponsors one of the fisherman’s children from primary to secondary school. The system of child sponsorship has led to the conversion of many villagers who have abandoned illegal logging to embrace eco friendly activities.
It took several years of sensitization and environmental education to teach the villagers to protect this aquatic mammal which was ignorantly cherished as food. The ecotouristic project initiated in 1998 by a Dutch foundation is presently managed a local NGO known as “Tube Awu” (our ocean). According to one of the conservers at the Ebodje turtle hut Albert Ndomi Yavoua, “all the tourists who arrive in Ebodje come for one reason only, to admire the turtles. The villagers therefore thought it wise to leave the forest and capitalize on this opportunity by playing the role of tourist guides, and carrying out income generating activities built around the turtle to fight against poverty”
An organized community
The community of Ebodje is organized around two local ecotourism associations, Ebotour and Tube Awu that manage ecotouristic activities with the accord the population whom they consult on all decisions relating to the operation of the project. Part of the income from ecotourism is paid directly to the villagers, and the other is used to finance community projects. All over the village, families have furnished rooms for visitors, small restaurants have sprung up and offer local dishes. Other activities such as fishing, excursions in the forest, and guided tours to the Lobe waterfall have occupied former loggers.
Worries of the villagers!
On May 6, 2022, the government of Cameroon signed a mining agreement with a Chinese company. A project which, according to the government, « should eventually bring at least 500 billion CFA francs to Cameroon », as well as thousands of jobs for young people. The people of Ebodje are not moved by the said investment benefits. Their major preoccupation is maintaining their special status as an ecotouristic village.
On May 13, 2022, the chief of Ebodjè released a memorandum signed by members of his community, drawing the attention of public authorities to the risks posed by this mining project to what constitutes the tourist attraction of the village. « The gradual disappearance of rare species such as protected sea turtles and natural touristic sites is imminent » exclaimed Chief Christian Ndjokou Djongoon on behalf of his people. To him, turtles and tourists have the right to resting places. The inhabitants of Ebodje recall that the mining area is located about twenty kilometers from their land which entails that mining activities can only result to negative effects on their natural environment and tourism promotion campaign.
Ateh Bonaventure /Rainforest Journalism Fund/Pulitzer Center
L’association Forêts et développement rural (Foder), lance un projet expérimental de restauration de terres à l’aide de la technique du biochar au Cameroun. La forêt communale de Minta, située dans la région du Centre est le site d’expérimentation. En cas de résultats satisfaisant la technique du biochar sera reproduite dans les autres forêts communales du Cameroun. Le projet financé par le Japon s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’initiative AFR 100, visant à restaurer plus de 100 millions d’hectares de terres en Afrique d’ici 2030.
Des opérations de plantation d’arbres et de restauration de terres ont été lancées le 29 juillet 2022 à Minta, une commune située dans la région du Centre au Cameroun. La forêt communale de Minta, établie sur une zone de transition entre la forêt et la savane, se trouve dans un état de dégradation, dû à de nombreuses années d’exploitation forestière et de culture mécanisée du maïs.
Afin de réhabiliter le couvert végétal de la région, l’association Forêts et développement rural (Foder) procède à la plantation d’arbres, suivant la technique du biochar. Il s’agit d’un matériau poreux et de faible densité dont l’incorporation dans le sol augmente la porosité et l’aération du sol, le rendant ainsi propice au développement racinaire des plantes. Cette propriété peut être exploitée pour croissance rapide des plants mis en pépinières.
Le Moabi, le Fraké, le Djansang, le Pachi, le Bibolo, le Bubinga, la mangue sauvage et l’allanblankia sont les essences identifiées pour le reboisement de la forêt communale de Minta. « Ces espèces utilisées pour le reboisement sont celles qui poussent déjà dans la localité, en milieu naturel. Nous les avons choisies car elles offrent un double avantage, à savoir la collecte du matériel génétique (graines ou sauvageons) pour la pépinière, et l’adaptation aux conditions climatiques de la localité », indique Clovis Nzuta, assistant projet à Foder et responsable du processus de reboisement de la forêt communale de Minta.
Le financement japonais
Le projet de reboisement et de restauration de la savane dégradée de Minta, soutenu par le ministère camerounais de l’Environnement, de la protection de la nature et du Développement durable (Minepded), et financé par la Japan Forests Technology Association (Jafta). Selon le délégué départemental du Minepded, Armand Djomo Ambassa, si l’expérience de Minta est concluante, elle sera répliquée dans l’ensemble des forêts communales du domaine national au Cameroun.
Cette action participe de l’engagement du Cameroun dans la réalisation de l’initiative AFR 100, visant la restauration de 12 millions d’hectares de terres en Afrique d’ici à 2030.
Boris Ngounou
CAMEROUN : la technique du biochar, pour la restauration des forêts dégradées
L’association Forêts et développement rural (Foder), lance un projet expérimental de restauration de terres à l’aide de la technique du biochar au Cameroun. La forêt communale de Minta, située dans la région du Centre est le site d’expérimentation. En cas de résultats satisfaisant la technique du biochar sera reproduite dans les autres forêts communales du Cameroun. Le projet financé par le Japon s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’initiative AFR 100, visant à restaurer plus de 100 millions d’hectares de terres en Afrique d’ici 2030.
La République démocratique du Congo (RDC) passe outre les inquiétudes suscitées par ses nouveaux projets énergétiques. Le président Félix Tshisekedi a lui-même lancé le 28 juillet 2022 les appels d’offres pour l’attribution aux enchères de 30 blocs pétroliers et gaziers couvrant une zone de plus de 240 000 km² qui empiète sur plusieurs régions forestières et parcs nationaux. Craignant une catastrophe écologique, plus de 100 000 personnes ont signé une pétition demandant au président RD congolais, de mettre fin à ces projets pétroliers.
La République démocratique du Congo (RDC) vient de mettre aux enchères 30 blocs pétroliers et blocs gaziers. Les appels d’offres internationaux y relatif ont été lancés officiellement le jeudi 28 juillet 2022 à Kinshasa par la plus haute autorité du pays, le président Félix Tshisekedi. « Je rassure ici nos partenaires sur notre détermination à mener des travaux d’exploitation et d’exploration à l’aide des moyens technologiques les plus modernes qui protègent l’environnement, la faune et la flore et préservent les écosystèmes ainsi que les équilibres écologiques », déclare le président RD congolais.
Félix Tshisekedi répond ainsi aux organisations de protection de la nature, qui appellent le gouvernement à annuler la mise en vente de ces blocs couvrant une zone de plus de 240 000 km². Ces blocs empiètent sur plusieurs régions forestières et parcs nationaux. « Cette vente aux enchères ne se contente pas de tourner en dérision l’image de la RDC en tant que solution à la crise climatique, elle expose les Congolais à la corruption, à la violence et à la pauvreté qui accompagnent inévitablement la malédiction du pétrole », s’indigne Irène Wabiwa, chef de projet international pour la campagne sur les forêts du bassin du Congo à Greenpeace Afrique.
L’exploitation du pétrole dans des tourbières
Dans une pétition remise le 25 juillet 2022 par des militants de Greenpeace Afrique à la présidence de la RDC, plus de 100 mille personnes demandent au président Félix Tshisekedi, de mettre fin à l’exploitation de nouveaux champs pétroliers et gaziers dans le pays.
La pétition initiée par Greenpeace Afrique, Rainforest Foundation UK et Rainforest Rescue, stipule que le gouvernement de la RDC s’approche d’un point de non-retour. « Le gouvernement veut sacrifier de vastes zones de la forêt tropicale et des tourbières du Congo pour le pétrole. Ce serait un désastre absolu pour le climat, la biodiversité et les populations locales. », indique la pétition.
Selon les données du gouvernement, la vente des 27 de blocs pétroliers devrait rapporter près de 2000 milliards de dollars américains au pays. Les autorités veulent utiliser ces recettes pétrolières pour accélérer le processus de développement et améliorer les conditions de vie des populations congolaises.
Boris Ngounou
RDC : plus de 100 000 personnes signent une pétition contre l’exploitation du pétrole
La République démocratique du Congo (RDC) passe outre les inquiétudes suscitées par ses nouveaux projets énergétiques. Le président Félix Tshisekedi a lui-même lancé le 28 juillet 2022 les appels d’offres pour l’attribution aux enchères de 30 blocs pétroliers et gaziers couvrant une zone de plus de 240 000 km² qui empiète sur plusieurs régions forestières et parcs nationaux. Craignant une catastrophe écologique, plus de 100 000 personnes ont signé une pétition demandant au président RD congolais, de mettre fin à ces projets pétroliers.
According to a recent study, the area of cultivated land has increased from 1.14 billion hectares in the period 2000-2003 to 1.24 billion hectares in the period 2016-2019. That is an increase of 102 million hectares, 52% of which are recorded in Africa. Scientists warn against the rapid expansion of cultivated land in Africa. A threat to biodiversity and climate.
In a recent study using satellite data from the Landsat program of the U.S. Space Agency (NASA), researchers from the universities of Maryland and Texas in the United States of America question the rapid expansion of cultivated land in Africa. Over the past two decades (2000-2019), Africa has expanded its cultivated area by more than a third, accounting for 52% of the global increase, or 102 million hectares. The increase was particularly rapid in a small group of countries, including Angola, Ivory Coast.
Angola, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Zambia.
This rapid expansion of arable land is mainly at the expense of forests and natural ecosystems. For example, the Ivory Coast has lost 90% of its forest in 60 years. And the phenomenon is not ready to stop. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that the continent will need about 120 million hectares of new arable land by 2050. To this must be added the expansion of pastures linked to the increased demand for dairy and meat products.
Focus on intensive and ecological agriculture
Africa’s population is expected to double by 2050 to 2.3 billion, according to United Nations projections. To feed this rapidly growing population, African farmers are encouraged to use intensive and ecological techniques to reduce their impact on the climate and natural environments.
The experts recommend, among other things, the transformation of agricultural production systems, the modification of eating habits as well as the reduction of losses and waste. « Contrary to what intuition suggests, food systems in Africa emit overall much more greenhouse gases than in Europe and the United States of America, due in particular to the low productivity of agriculture and the importance of deforestation, » says the study.
Fanta Mabo
AFRICA: Arable land increased by 52% in 20 years
According to a recent study, the area of cultivated land has increased from 1.14 billion hectares in the period 2000-2003 to 1.24 billion hectares in the period 2016-2019. That is an increase of 102 million hectares, 52% of which are recorded in Africa. Scientists warn against the rapid expansion of cultivated land in Africa. A threat to biodiversity and climate.
Pope Francis has placed the 2022 edition of the « Time of Creation » under the sign of the fight against climate change. During the ecumenical celebration, which will run from 1 September to 4 October 2022, the pontiff is inviting Catholics and Christians from other churches to undertake an ecological conversion.
Pope Francis intends to send a strong message to world leaders, a few months before the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), scheduled to take place in Egypt in November 2022. On the occasion of the « Time of Creation », which will begin on 1 September 2022 with the World Day of Prayer for the Integrity of Creation, and will end on 4 October 2022, St. Francis Day, the head of the Catholic Church invites his faithful and those of other Christian denominations to observe a month of ecological conversion.
This call aims to reduce the carbon footprint of human activities, in a global context and particularly in Africa, where extreme climatic phenomena (drought, floods or hurricanes) affect millions of people. « Praise be to you, my Lord, with all your creatures. This canticle of St Francis of Assisi is accompanied today by a bitter cry: that of the Earth, which begs us to stop its destruction, » says Pope Francis in his message published on 21 July 2022.
The Time of Creation
According to the Catholic Church, the Time of Creation is a period in which the Church, through ecumenical (inter-religious) dialogue, invites humanity to renew its relationship with the Creator and creation, through celebration, conversion and common commitment. Creation Time is an annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action for the planet.
The Pope’s call, echoing the encyclical Laudato si’, is accompanied by the prayer intention. « Let us cry with the bitter cry of creation, listen to it and respond with our actions. So that we and future generations can still rejoice in the sweet song of life and hope of creatures, » concluded Pope Francis, indicating that it is a matter of converging together towards common principles, to stop the ongoing collapse and save biodiversity.
Fanta Mabo
COP 27: Pope Francis invites Christians to a month of ecological conversion
Pope Francis has placed the 2022 edition of the « Time of Creation » under the sign of the fight against climate change. During the ecumenical celebration, which will run from 1 September to 4 October 2022, the pontiff is inviting Catholics and Christians from other churches to undertake an ecological conversion.