Innovative management of forest resources: Stakeholders salute successful implementation of COMECA project.

It was chaired by the Secretary General of Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, MINRESI, Prof Rebecca Madeleine Ebelle Etame, who represented Minister Madeleine Tchuente. 

Present during the session were the Secretary General in the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, the Chargé de mission of the Embassy of Japan, the Resident Representative of JICA in Cameroon as well as other members of the committee.

In her remarks, Prof Ebelle Etame thanked the Japanese partners for all the multifaceted support which ensured the smooth running of the project which began in July 2018. 

She subsequently indicated that the expected results were largely achieved, citing the designing a model for sustainable use of wildlife; the design of a production and processing system for non-timber forest products to offer a source of income other than the bushmeat trade.

The MINRESI scribe also mentioned the implementation of the sustainable management model of forest resources. 

The project thus made it possible to offer alternatives to income from bushmeat through the improvement, production, processing and marketing of non-timber forest products. 

According to the Secretary General in the Ministry of Scientific Research, the project strengthened the capacities of local populations in the Boumba Bek and Nki national parks-East Region, in the production and processing of njansang almonds. 

In addition to these achievements directly linked to the project, the Japanese Cooperation has proceeded with the construction of a research station in Zoulabot in the Upper Nyong Division of the East Region. 

The research station will be transferred to the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD.

It should be noted that COMECA project was a continuation of the Establishing Sustainable Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management Strategies in the Rainforest of Cameroon and Surrounding Areas known as FOSAS which was executed between 2011 and 2016. 

Funded by the Japan Cooperation Agency, JICA, through the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development Program, the project was implemented by the University of Kyoto and IRAD.

Several institutions including the ministries of Scientific Research, Forestry and Wildlife, IRAD as well as the universities of Dschang, Yaounde 1 and Douala were involved in the execution of the project. 

Through the COMECA project, it was a question of creating the conditions for close collaboration between the populations living near the Boumba Bek and Nki national parks and the government by allowing them to live off the products of their environment. 

From this perspective, it was necessary to develop innovative mechanisms for managing forest resources by populations in order to support them in the development of activities that would allow them benefit from forest products other than bushmeat.

After six years of operation, the project has come to an end. It is now a question of considering mechanisms to facilitate the monitoring and effective implementation of the results obtained. 

It is in this sense that the creation of a platform is envisaged to ensure the conduct of residual activities in the interest of the populations.

While closing discussions during the Steering Committee meeting, the MINRESI scribe invited the representatives of the Japanese and Chinese partners to develop new projects likely to contribute even more effectively to the well-being of the populations.

The story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No: 3145 of Friday June 21, 2024