Environmental NGOs Showcase Activities At Trade Fair
Some 55 environmental associations nationwide last year showcased their activities at a trade fair in Yaounde.
By Paul Anu
The event which took place in the Chamber of Agriculture was an occasion for the environmental NGOs to exchange ideas on the best practices in environmental protection, conservation and biodiversity management.
The trade fair, the first of its kind, intends to create a platform where environmental associations could always meet to exchange best practices of their various activities for a more sustainable and integrated management of the environment.
The fair was co-organized by Small Grants Project of Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Programme de Petites Initiative under French Funds to support World Environmental Protection in Developing Countries.
Participants brainstormed on four topics which involved climate change, soil degradation, less privileged people and local problems of women and youths in the communities.
They also benefited from experts managing major projects and guides on how to design projects that could attract more funds for their activities.
The trade fair brought together associations involved in a wide range of environmental conservation activities like plants production for medicinal purposes, promotion and fostering gender equality, promote preservation of natural resources, enhance training through capacity building, sensitization and education on environmental management and promotion of domestication of indigenous fruit trees for sustainable management.
Others carry out activities like protection of endangered species and plants, recycling of waste, sustainable land development, support rural women to trading on non-timber forest products, networking with indigenous people and fight against poverty and hunger eradication in remote communities and looking for alternative livelihood to reduce pressure on natural resources amongst others.
Speaking to the press, the supervisor and one of the main organizers of the trade fair and Director of the Organization of Sustainable Environmental Development Jonas Kemanjo, said the fair will help the NGOs to show what they are doing in the field to help the communities and farmers to learn from their experiences and expertise, providing new ideas on how to continue helping the populations carry out sustainable exploitation of the environment.
