Gov’t Creates Technical Committee for Tofala Management Plan Elaboration

The Cameroon Government through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) has constituted a Technical Committee for the development of a management plan for the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary (THWS) created in September 2014.According to the decision signed by Minister Ngolle Philip Ngwesse, the Technical Committee will start with the elaboration of the management plan. Once the elaboration process is completed, the Committee will take the elaborated management plan to the local communities of the Tofalal area, Divisional, Regional level and National level for contributions respectively. Once inputs are made at all these levels, the management plan will be sent to the Minister for appreciation.

Shancho Ndimuh & Yanick Fonki Ndaley

The Committee is made up of the Director of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Sub Directors of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Chief of Legal Affairs Unit, Southwest Regional Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife, Southwest Regional Chief of Wildlife and Protected Areas. Other Members include Lebialem Division Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife and Chief of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Divisional Officers of Wabane and Alou, the Conservator of THWS and the head of the facilitating Organisation (ERuDeF).

Meanwhile, the Technical Committee was installed, Wednesday August 30, 2017, during a workshop to establish a roadmap for the elaboration of the management plan. The occasion that took place at the Southwest Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife, brought together key actors in the development of the Management plan from the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), and the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF).

Sitting-in for the Director of Wildlife and Protected Areas at MINFOF, the Sub Director of Wildlife, Kouotou Aboubakar, called on the members to be committed and assiduous in the realisation of the Committee’s goal.

He commended the choice of the Technical Committee members.

“This Committee is made up of MINFOF’s finest! They are the best people to coordinate the elaboration and development of this Management Plan. On behalf of the Director (of Wildlife and Protected Areas), I enjoin all the members of the Technical Committee to get to work and be committed, so that in less than no time, our goal of developing a Management Plan for THWS, can be realised,” Kouotou Aboubakar reiterated.

The constitution of this Technical Committee, according to the Conservator of the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, Thomas Njimin, is a response to a letter he (the Conservator), in collaboration with the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF), and her international partners submitted last April, 2017. This letter informed the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, that ERuDeF, which facilitated the creation process of this protected area, has secured funds for the elaboration and validation of a management plan. It also craved the indulgence of the Minister to put in place a technical committee that will coordinate the elaboration and validation process.

 The decree from the Minister has thus been greeted with lots of joy especially given the importance of a management plan in the effective management of this protected area.

“The management plan is just like a bible and working without it is like roaming without a sense of focus. Many fears will be washed away. People have been asking me what they stand to gain from the sanctuary. With this, many worries will be clarified. I thank the minister for being attentive to our plea, ERuDeF and partners for all they are doing to ensure the sustainable management of the sanctuary” the Conservator of Tofala divulged.

The President/CEO of ERuDeF, Louis Nkembi, on his part, expressed profound gratitude to the Minister for his promptness in granting the request. This, according to him, is a bold step towards ensuring the effective management of the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary host to about 40 Cross River Gorilla, over 150 Nigeria Cameroon Chimpanzees, unknown population Drills and other biodiversity species.  The ERuDeF boss also thanked Rainforest Trust-USA for supporting ERuDeF in her efforts to ensure the development of a management plan for this protected area.

ERuDeF’s Chief Operations Officer, Ursula Nkeng said the approval of this request by the Minister is a major breakthrough in the management plan development process.Road Map for Elaboration and Development of Management Plan

Following deliberations from the Technical Committee members, by May 30, 2018, all ground works must have been completed and a developed management plan submitted to the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife. Activities leading to development of the Management Plan will include; production of a draft business and management plan, sensitisation of concerned communities, consultations, and validations at the Sub Divisional, Divisional and Regional Levels. Each of the activities will be interspersed with meeting-grouping members of the Technical Committee. The submission of the developed management and business plans to MINFOF shall be proceeded by a Prime Ministerial Order approving the management and business plans. That shall be followed by the distribution, implementation, and monitoring of the approved plans.