CAMEROON GENDER and ENVIRONMENT WATCH (CAMGEW) Republic of Cameroon
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CAMEROON GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT WATCH (CAMGEW) Republic of Cameroon Equator Initiative Case Studies Local sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES Local and Indigenous communities across the world are solutions (NBS) for climate change and local sustainable advancing innovative sustainable development solutions development. Selected from 847 nominations from across that work for people and for nature. Few publications 127 countries, the winners were celebrated at a gala event or case studies tell the full story of how such initiatives in New York, coinciding with UN Climate Week and the evolve, the breadth of their impacts, or how they change 74th Session of the UN General Assembly. The winners are over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories sustainably protecting, restoring, and managing forests, with community practitioners themselves guiding the farms, wetlands, and marine ecosystems to mitigate narrative. The Equator Initiative aims to fill that gap. greenhouse gas emissions, help communities adapt to The Equator Initiative, supported by generous funding climate change, and create a green new economy. Since from the German Federal Ministry for Economic 2002, the Equator Prize has been awarded to 245 initiatives. Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), awarded The following case study is one in a growing series that the Equator Prize 2019 to 22 outstanding local community describes vetted and peer-reviewed best practices and Indigenous peoples initiatives from 16 countries. Each intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to of the 22 winners represents outstanding community and scale nature-based solutions essential to achieving the Indigenous initiatives that are advancing nature-based Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PROJECT SUMMARY KEY FACTS Created in 2007, Cameroon Gender and Environment Equator Prize winner Founded Watch (CAMGEW) supports women’s empowerment, 2019 2007 community livelihoods, and sustainable ecosystems, while addressing environmental challenges in the Location Northwest Region of the Republic of Cameroon Kilum-Ijim Forest, Oku District, Northwest Region, (Cameroon). Recognizing that local livelihoods are Republic of Cameroon deeply integrated with the health of local ecosystems, the group has planted 80,000 bee-loving native trees Beneficiaries in degraded areas of the Kilum-Ijim Forest. The trees Nearly 3,000 direct beneficiaries in the Kilum-Ijim Forest naturally sequester carbon, protect key watersheds, region; indirect beneficiaries include seven community provide nectar for bees and food for animals, and forest institutions and 44 villages contain medicinal values. At the same time, CAMGEW has trained 1,388 bee farmers in honey production for Thematic areas market, while also training 772 farmers in agroforestry Biodiversity conservation; Women’s empowerment; to bolster soil health and provide alternative firewood Forest conservation/sustainable development sources. To empower women farmers, CAMGEW has offered business training for 1,580 women and micro- Fields of work loans for 1,325 women. In a time of ongoing conflict Ecosystem restoration; Eco-enterprise or green business; in Cameroon, the organization has made a powerful Non-timber forest products impact on the health of local ecosystems and the well-being of local communities. Sustainable Development Goals addressed UNITED NATIONS CAMEROON Geospatial 10°E 15°E Diffa Lake Massakory Chad Katsina Makari Fotokol Gusau ^!N’Djaména Kano Kousséri Damaturu Dutse Maiduguri C h a r i Waza Massenya gola Mora on Gélengdeng G Mokolo EXTRÊME- a g n Marouao Kaduna u NORD o B Bongor Bauchi Bourrah o Kaelé Yagoua Gombe 10°N 10°N Jos Minna Figuil Laï o Pala Abuja Garoua Kelo NIGERIA B ^! 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National capital Yokadouma Mbalmayo Nola Administrative capital Ngato Town, village Lolodorf Lomié o Major airport Ngoulemakongo Kribio Ebolowa Dja International boundary Sangmélima Djoum Administrative boundary SUD Main road Campo Ambam Ngoïla Secondary road Railway Moloundou 0 100 200km 0 50 100mi GABON REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL Oyem THE CONGO Ouésso GUINEA Map No. 4227 Rev. 3 The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Apr 2020 10°E 15°E EQUATOR PRIZE 2019 WINNER FILM The depiction and use of boundaries and related information shown on maps or included in text of this document are not guaranteed to be free from error, nor do they imply official acceptance or recognition by the United Nations. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT In the Northwest Region of Central Africa’s Republic of native trees, including African cherry (Prunus africana), Cameroon (Cameroon), the volcanic Kilum Mountain listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Oku White Honey Range meets the Ijim Ridge. The region is home to the is one of only two products in Cameroon certified as a 3,011-metre-high Mount Oku stratovolcano, featuring Geographical Indication Product, recognizing its unique Lake Oku at the explosion crater and the Mount Oku cloud endemic properties. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership forest surrounding the peak. The 20,000-hectare Kilum- Fund (CEPF) recognizes the forest covering Mount Oku Ijim Forest is the largest remaining area of Afro-montane and the Ijim Ridge as a key biodiversity area in the wider rainforest on the African continent. It is the last remaining Guinean Forests of West Africa Biodiversity Hotspot. habitat for the Bannerman’s turaco (Tauraco bannermani), a bird listed as endangered on the International Union The Kilum-Ijim area hosts 18 community forests pre- for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened dominantly used and managed by three tribes, the Nso, Species. The region also provides critical habitat for the Oku, and Kom, as well as a Plant Life Sanctuary protected Newtonia camerunensis (Newtonia camerunensis), a by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife near Lake Oku. leguminous tree only found in Cameroon listed as critically The area is known for traditional healers, wood carving, endangered on the IUCN Red List. and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), such as honey, mushrooms, medicinal plants, and spices. While tribes The forest’s particular ecosystem properties have made continue to value the forest, the growing population of it the only place in the world where one can find the nearly 300,000 people among 44 villages within walking naturally white and creamy honey referred to as Oku distance of forested areas has increased pressures on the White Honey. Its distinctive qualities are produced by ecosystem. Origin and structure Recognizing that the Kilum-Ijim Forest region holds capacity to engage in eco-businesses and forest regenera- incredible potential for livelihood improvement, in 2007, tion. CAMGEW’s initiatives specifically strive to include and Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch (CAMGEW) engage women and young people. CAMGEW believes formed to increase awareness about forest benefits and that the planet can be sustained by putting social and revive traditional forest-friendly livelihood activities. One environmental justice at the centre of development. of those activities is the promotion and development Bees showcase this truth, as they pollinate 40 percent of of a honey value chain. CAMGEW leaders noticed that global food crops, making them crucial not only to honey when traditional forest beekeeping increases, community production, but also to food security and human survival. engagement in the forest increases, and community members become a first line of defence to protect the CAMGEW is a local non-governmental organization (NGO) forest from fire. Honey and honey by-products, such as that has a General Assembly of members, a team of paid soap, candles, honey juice, and wine, create local income staff, and a Board of Directors. Funding is primarily gener- and sustainably provide for local household needs. ated from foundation grants. The General Assembly is in charge of electing members of the Board of Directors. It CAMGEW’s mission is to achieve a society free from pov- also meets annually with the staff and Board of Directors erty, gender inequality, and unsustainable environmental to participate in reporting and decision-making activities. practices. The group’s work strengthens the community’s 4 LOCAL CHALLENGES Forest degradation and fragmentation Bushfires, agricultural encroachment, and unsustainable Similarly, tree cutting for various purposes threatens forest forest harvesting have significantly degraded and frag- regeneration. Trees are cut for firewood and construc- mented the Kilum-Ijim Forest. In 2012,