Creation Of Proposed Mak-Bectchou Chimpanzee Sanctuary Launched

The Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) through its Lebialem Divisional office has officially kicked-started the process for the creation of the proposed Mak-Betchou Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

By Regina Fonjia Leke

MINFOF with the technical assistance of ERuDeF, March 14, 2014, launched the process during a sensitization meeting chaired by Lebialem Senior Divisional Officer (SDO), Kouemo Simon, for administrative and local elites around the proposed sanctuary.

“We are here to open a new page in conservation in Lebialem,” said the SDO and cautioned that the process of creating a protected area warrants that all the stakeholders come to a compromise. “This is the reason why we are starting the process today with all the main actors,” said Kouemo.

He said in all the six Divisions of the South West Lebialem remains the only Division without a protected area. He urged notables and representatives of villages bordering the proposed wildlife sanctuary to support government’s efforts in conserving nature and reap the benefits other Divisions with protected area enjoy, such as infrastructural development and eco-tourism.

The South West Regional Chief in charge of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Nono Joseph, said the protection of endangered plants, animal species and heir habitat is government’s priority. “Following ERuDeF’s report there are some key species found in this forest such as the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, found only in Nigeria and Cameroon,” Nono said.

According to Nono, the Regional Delegation would follow the procedure for the creation of a protected area.

“We have just begun. After this sensitization meeting, we are going to continue with the preparation of a technical note. This note will be forwarded to the Ministry in Yaounde so that a public notice is produced. Once we have this public notice, it will be published in all the communities surrounding the proposed sanctuary and the other steps for creation will follow,” Nono explained.

On the importance of gazetting the proposed site, Nono said, “According to the Forestry law, permanent forestry is supposed to make up 30% of the entire forest, but as of now, we have just 17%. This protected area is, therefore, going to increase the area covered by the permanent forest in Cameroon.”

Nono equally said the protected area would bring about eco-tourism and development. He observed that the chiefs were highly motivated and hopefully before the year runs out, the process would have come to an end.

“The Minister of Forestry is very committed to see a project of this magnitude go from beginning to the end. It is in this light that the Director in charge of Wildlife and Protected Areas sent me in order to ensure that the due process of gazetting a sanctuary are followed as provided for by the Forestry law,” said Onya Humphrey, representing the Director of Wildlife at the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife.

He added, “All those who have come here have expressed their wish for the process of gazetting to continue and the expected benefits will not only be for the state but also for the communities and the local residents surrounding the area.”

The Fon of Njoagwi, Fotabong Vincent, told The Green Vision that the protection of wildlife is a good thing to them because it will help bring development in one way or the other.

“As a leader, it is now incumbent on me to sensitize the villagers not to enter the protected area,” said Fon Fotabong.

He thanked the government and ERuDeF for the idea to protect the Mak-Betchou area, which, according to him, is rich in biodiversity.

Another leader, Chief Julius Fonkwete of Njoagwi Fotabong III said, “The creation of the Mak-Betchou Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a brilliant idea.

“We embrace it. So many animals have been destroyed ignorantly by the local people perhaps to earn a living. This has caused the population of some endangered species to reduce drastically. As a leader, I will sensitize my people on the need to create this sanctuary,” said Chief Fonkwete.

He said the villagers would have some sort of self-employment as he gathered from the different presentations. He hopes that the sanctuary will bring roads, health and infrastructural development especially given that the roads in his village and Lebialem in general are a nightmare.

About Mak-Betchou

The proposed Mak-Betchou Chimpanzee Sanctuary is located in Fontem Subdivision, Lebialem Division, South West Region. It has a surface area of approximately 6.900 hectares. The name Mak-Betchou comes from two rivers that flow through the forest namely River Mak and River Betchou. This proposed protected area is surrounded by three villages namely Lebang, Essoh-attah and Njoagwi.

From studies conducted by ERuDeF in collaboration with MINFOF and other technical partners between 2008 and now, the proposed sanctuary inhabits threatened species of wildlife including African Forest Elephants, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees, Drills, antelopes, Bush Pig and revealing signs of the critically endangered Cross River gorilla among others.

Threatened species of birds are also present in this area including the Bangwa Forest Warbler, Bannerman’s Turaco and Cameroon Mountain Greenbul.