Dominique Bela, Voicesofafrica mobile reporter in Douala, Cameroon
Do you know the Yabassi landscape area? Four hours separate this virgin forest from the economic capital, Douala in Cameroon's Littoral Province of Cameroon.
Owona Ebambou is a young and ambitious dedicated Cameroonian. He is passionate about his job and works hard to keep the WWF brand high in the programmes' area. He works as sociologist for the Coastal Forests/Sawa Programme.
“In the Sawa Programme terminology, YLSA refers to three main entities: Nlonako, Makombe and Ebo which all are proposed protected areas. For strategic reasons, we decided for a start to focus our work in the Ebo forest that straddles three divisions: Nkam, Sanaga Maritime and Mbam and Inoubou”, says Ebambou ard.
As the programme sociologist, he is in charge of socio-economic activities and coordination of community-based organizations activities. He also comes in as key player in the facilitation of protected area creation and the identification of key areas for protection.
One of the latest examples is his sound contribution to the facilitation of the gazettement process of the Ebo Proposed National Park in the Littoral Province. The proposal has successfully been submitted to the competent authorities for approval.
The YLSA holds significant density of plants and animal species on the African continent, and represents an important centre of endemism for the Cameroon lowland Coastal. These important plants have been subject to increasing pressure from petty and commercial loggers over the years, hence contributing to a 50% reduction of its forest.
The remaining 50% of the forest cover is considered to retain high conservation values with not less than 125 plant species that were recorded in the Ebo forest. Harbouring very important vegetation type holding rich botanical species, the Ebo forest, that of Makombe and Mt. Nlonako form the largest block of primary and old secondary forest in western Cameroon.
Apart from its botanical importance, the area is home to many primate species including the Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus), one of the most endangered primate species in the world, and the Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), Elephants (Loxodonta Africana cyclotis), Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus).
Unfortunately, these animal species have been exposed to incessant poaching activities, which form one of the most feared threats on the fauna and avi-fauna of the area. Today, hunting communities have sprawled all over the area, further aggravating the poaching incidence in the landscape.
There are specialist small groups, which have evolved to huge underground well-structured institutions for the hunting of elephants. The project is developed within the framework of agreed goal and objectives elaborated on annual contracts, proposals and work plans between WWF Netherlands and WWF Sawa through WWF Cameroon Country Programme and WWF Central African Programme Offices.
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