Ten thousand Zebra wood (Microbelinia bisulcata), Prunus Africana, mahogany and other threatened trees species have been planted in the Mt. Cameroon area. The trees were planted just a few weeks after a similar exercise implanted 10.000 other trees in the Bakingili Community Forest in the West Coast, Fako Division, South West Region.
By Regina Leke
Foresters working for the Program Conservation of Threatened Trees at ERuDeF in collaboration with local government authorities and local communities planted the threatened trees in the Woteva Community Forest in the outskirts of Buea.
The Woteva Community Forest was created in 1994.
For three years, ERuDeF in collaboration with the Forestry Ministry, have been raising the seedlings in nurseries and planting them in the wild to help restore huge populations of the trees lost to illegal logging.
“I am very excited to have planted these trees and I wish such a programme to continue because it will regenerate forests for the future generation. The trees will help curb the negative effects of climate change that have become so glaring,” said Chief Bernard Lieti Woloko, shortly after the planting exercise.
Chief Lieti Woloko is also the Forest Manager.
Another community member who also planted the trees, Simon Eseye, said he feels happy because the trees would help restore the population of some species, which have become so rare. “Before, we used to have Prunus Africana all over. But due to unsustainable harvesting, they have become hard to find. We depend on such trees for our health. When we must have finished harvesting everything, what are we going to leave behind for our children?” Eseye said.
He added, “I know these trees take long to grow, but I am consoled that when my children and grandchildren grow up, they will have something”.
Ndumbe Stephen, a forestry technician, said planting the trees is a good lesson learned for conservation.
“The trees will not just help protect our environment, but will also act as habitat for wildlife thus protecting them,” said Ndumbe.
According to Ndumbe, who is above sixty, he is not planting these trees for himself but for the next generation.
The Project Coordinator, Asa’a Lemawah, said planting the trees back into the wild is a dream come true.
“We started by nursing seeds of these threatened trees and for three years now we have been raising the seedlings, but to actually plant them back into the wild is a real achievement and I am so proud of it. This is because when the trees grow up, they will boost the population,” said Asa’a, expressing gratitude to the UK Charity Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and the Global Tree Campaign that have been supporting ERuDeF financially and technically towards the realization of this dream.
10.000 More Threatened Trees Planted In Mt. Cameroon Area
