Often described as the lungs of Africa, the vast forest expanse of the Congo Basin is the world's 2nd largest tropical rainforest. Spanning 8 countries, the forests are home to an array of wildlife, including forest elephants and mountain gorillas, as well as numerous indigenous groups. Yet, mining and agricultural interests threaten wildlife, forests and people. Your support will enable us to train communities in Cameroon to manage these lush landscapes, conserving them for future generations.
Large firms have been seizing swaths of forestland that were traditionally under ancestral tenure and rapidly converting them to mono-crop rubber and oil palm plantations. Such development has been widely documented as severely undermining biodiversity (a biological hotspot, the Congo Basin is home to many unique animals) and local livelihoods. Worldwide, forests are recognized for providing food and shelter and are key to combating climate change and protecting the homes of indigenous people.
Community forestry--whereby local communities manage their forest resources--is a proven alternative to land grabs. Community-managed forests have been shown to outperform protected areas in maintaining forest cover, while also providing local economic development opportunities. Training and technical assistance in sustainable forest management, enterprise development and the creating and selling of new products will contribute to viable community forestry and a sustainable future in Cameroon.
This project will help 10,000 individuals across 12 communities improve their livelihoods while protecting 75,000 acres of forest that is home to mountain and lowland gorillas, forest elephants and chimpanzees. We will also create new opportunities for women, including the harvesting and sale of wild mangoes and other forest products. Our efforts have already resulted in a doubling of income from sustainable timber sales and an increase in forest products sales of more than 75 percent.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
Case Studies: Community forestry's positive impact
NY Times article: Benefits of community forestry
Op-ed by RA's community forestry team