Elephant Conservation and Biodiversity Importance of Mak-Betchou Forest

The Mak-Betchou forest is one of the conservation units within the Lebialem Highlands Conservation Complex designated in 2010 to support the remaining globally threatened biodiversity species in the area. 
At an altitude of over 1400 metres above sea level, Mak-Betchou is adjacent to yet another montane biodiversity-rich Nkingkwa Hills in Kupe Muanenguba Division and Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary to the South, another key biodiversity hotspot. 
The Mak-Betchou forest located on the Cameroon Volcanic Line falls within the equatorial rainforest zone characterized by two major seasons; the dry season (November-February) and the wet season (March-October) with an annual rainfall recorded in the area as high as 3500mm. 
The climate is characterized at high altitudes by low temperatures, high relative humidity and the mountain is often covered in clouds. 
Biodiversity surveys conducted in the Mak-Betchou forest since 2005 to date have continued to update the biological data base of the forest with key wildlife species as elephants, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees, Drills, Cross River gorillas, buffaloes, important density of reptiles and amphibians and a population of globally threatened birds such as the Bangwa Forest Warbler. 
Of importance are also relative densities of butterflies and insects worthy of study. With over 300 chimpanzees, 100 elephants and several gorillas, the conservation importance of this forest can also be measured in relation to its neighbouring conservation units. 
The Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary is a refuge for elephants, chimpanzees, crocodiles, water chevrotain, leopards and other animals. Further south is the Korup National Park, one of the richest rainforests in Africa, and to the west by the Ntali Forest Reserve (an important elephant corridor). 
To the north-east of the Mak-Betchou forest is the proposed Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary (currently awaiting gazettement and noted for its population of Cross River gorillas and other endangered species of fauna and flora). The forest is further linked to the north-east by the Takamanda National Park, which hosts over 100 Cross River gorillas. 
These conservation units constitute the main Cross River gorilla, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee and elephant conservation landscape in the South West Region of Cameroon. Besides, this landscape connection and importance of Mak-Betchou, the forest is also located within the Cameroon Mountains Endemic Birds Area and the Cameroon-Gabon Restricted Birds range due to its importance in globally threatened birds species.
Elephants
Beyond the wildlife importance of Mak-Betchou, the forest is also has very relative important densities of species of non-timber forest products such as bush mango, njansang and a host other species highly researched both in the national and international markets. It is equally valuable   culturally and ecologically for elephants. 
The African elephant, world’s largest terrestrial mammal, is a species with extraordinary intelligence, complex social organisation and astounding abilities to adapt to its behavior. It is a long-lived; slow maturing species exhibiting a remarkable degree of social cohesion manifested in very strong and long-lasting social ties. The elephant is an important “keystone”, “flagship” and “umbrella species”. In many African cultures the elephant is a symbol of strength and power.
Elephants play a very important ecological role, particularly in maintaining the diversity of flora and fauna. They have a profound impact on their environment: they brush over trees creating clearing and grassland, dig for salt and disseminate seeds of many plants, creating a patchwork of many forest types and habitats for many other species, and thus exert an influence over age and structure of the flora and specific composition of fauna in their habitats. 
The ecological relationships may have economic consequences. For instance, some three species important to timber industry have large seeds that are disseminated by elephants. If this animal were to disappear, the natural regeneration of these trees could be jeopardised.  
The world over, large-scale loss and degradation of natural landscapes due to human activities has resulted in the reduction and fragmentation of habitat for a myriad of wild species. Such habitat fragmentation and the ensuing interspersion of human habitation and cultivation had brought wildlife into greater contact with humans, leading to an escalation in human-animal conflict. 
In the South West Cameroon in particular, hunting of elephants is severe in the Korup National Park and Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, and continuous into the Mak-Betchou forest. Hunting of elephants has been reported every year in the Mak-Betchou forest through “black market” outlets. 
Due to this significant importance of Mak-Betchou forest, ERuDeF, one of the leading national NGOs in Cameroon signed a Memorandum of Understanding with government in 2012 to technically assist the government in the process of transforming these communal forests into permanent protected areas for the long-term perpetuation of these wildlife species. 
ERuDeF will in the coming years assist the government to transform Mak-Betchou forest into a wildlife sanctuary, the second that would be created in Lebialem Division.
In order to provide a long-term safeguard to the elephants and the global biodiversity of the Mak-Betchou forest, an integrated and conservation strategy is being put in place with the assistance of ERuDeF to support the long-term conservation policy of the government and her obligations towards the Convention on Migratory Species, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nigeria and Cameroon governments’ Convention on the Conservation of Cross River Gorillas and Chimpanzees and the 2003 African Elephant Conservation Strategy.
It is within this background that ERuDeF and its partners will in the following three years and more work with local community partners to implement an integrated conservation and development programme that will meet the needs of the local people and at the same time support the conservation of these global wildlife species within the framework of the Bakossi-Banyang-Mbo Technical Operational Unit (a government landscape natural resources management approach).
With contributions from Louis Nkembi and Allen Tabi Enokenwa