Mount Cameroon Project (MCP), Cameroon
Case Study C0065
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| Date | 1998 |
| Agency | MINEF/GEF World Bank administered National Biodiversity Conservation and Management Programme |
| Donor/support agency | Ministries of Environment and Forests (MINEF), Cameroon Co-operation and Regional Planning (MINPAT), Cameroon Department for International Development (DFID), UK Technical co-operation organisation of the German government (GTZ), Germany |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Community conserved area |
| Geographic coverage | Cameroon |
| Locality | Mt. Cameroon Region |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/Landscape |
| Development focus | People living in the Mt. Cameroon Region |
| Conservation goals | Maintain biodiversity in the Mt. Cameroon Region |
| Poverty reduction goals | Promote local economic development |
Summary
The management of forest resources in Cameroon is the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MINEF). The Mount Cameroon Project (MCP) is a multilateral biodiversity conservation project working directly within MINEF, on Mount Cameroon and surrounding villages. The Goal of the MCP is to maintain the biodiversity in the Mt. Cameroon region. It will be achieved if the project is successful in its purpose which is to increase the capacity of users and other stakeholders to manage sustainably, and conserve natural resources in the Mount Cameroon project area.
With this objective MCP has focussed much attention, in collaboration with the local Forestry service, Plantecam (a phamaceutical company), and the local inhabitants, to the sustainable management of Prunus africana in the area. The sole commercial exploitation license for prunus on the mountain is held by Plantecam. They export an extract from the bark to their mother company in France for the manufacture of drugs to cure ailments of the prostrate gland. Prunus africana is a pan-african montane tree species found through out the highlands of Cameroon. Mount Cameroon supports the most important population of prunus in Cameroon and probably in West Africa. It is the third most abundant canopy tree species in the upper montane forest of the mountain. The tree is of immense economic and social importance in the area and beyond, and is possibly the most well known tree on the mountain. The bark is used locally for traditional medicine, and it is also the raw material for Plantecam. MINEF, MCP, Plantecam, and the local inhabitants are therefore all stakeholders in the management of the species on Mount Cameroon.
Conservation impact
Project activities to date have focused on creating the enabling environment for sustainable conservation. Evidence of sustained impacts on sustainable forest management and livelihoods is therefore as yet limited. However, from the work on harvesting Prunus africana bark there are strong indications that a biodiversity conservation policy based on positive livelihood impacts can be successful.
Poverty reduction impact
In 1997-98, the first Prunus Harvesters’ Union created, representing harvesters from Mapanja community, tripled annual revenues to US$40,000 from the collection of Prunus bark sold to the pharmaceutical company Plantecam. Of this, about US$36,000 was distributed among the 60 involved harvesters on a pro-rata basis according to the amount they individually harvested and US$2,500 were used in installation of the community’s first pipe-bourne water supply.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Partnership with private sector
Sustainable Use
Reference 1
http://www.undp.org/seed/pei/share/forest2.htm
Reference 2
http://www.mcbcclimbe.org/mcp_intro.shtml
More information
http://srdis.ciesin.columbia.edu/cases/cameroon-001.html
Brown, D. (1998) Participatory Biodiversity Conservation – Rethinking the Strategy in Low Tourist Potential Areas of Tropical Africa. Natural Resource Perspectives No. 33, August 1998, ODI
Related records above this one:
- Global Environment Facility (GEF) (Organisation O0026)
- Department for International Development (DFID), UK (Organisation O0018)