French Embassy Grants ERuDeF 42.000 Euros For Reforestation Anchor

The French Embassy in Cameroon, through its fund “Appui à la Société Civile du Sud (SCS), has granted ERuDeF 42.000 euros (circa 25.000.000 frs cfa) towards its conservation program in Magha, Wabane Sub-Division, South West Region.

This funding with additional backing from Man & Nature will help support the implementation of the first phase of the Mt. Bamboutos Echinops Project for the next 18 months.

The project will focus on the economic, social, environmental and governance issues on the Lebialem side of Mt. Bamboutos.

The Mt. Bamboutos Echinops Project is the first pilot project to test the implementation of the ABS Initiative of the Nagoya Principle in Cameroon.

The project aims to regenerate and valorize the production of the local plant Echinops giganteus which has pharmaceutical and essential oil properties.

Most of the people in Magha-Bamumbu are farmers and cattle breeders whose yearly incomes stand between 340-930 euros.

The community is blessed with natural plants but whose commercial values are never exploited. The French support will help the production and commercialisation of the Echinops giganteus and help boost the incomes of the people.

Equally, Mt. Bamboutos has been facing massive deforestation and poor agricultural practices leading to massive degradation of the soil which caused a massive landslide in Magha-Bamumbu in 2003 claiming more than 20 lives.

The Echinops Project is, therefore, bringing in a new source of revenue through the creation of a cooperative: MoBECoS (Mount Bamboutos Echinops Co-operative Society) to permit villagers have equal benefit sharing from the exploitation of Echinops giganteus.

The provision of modern bee hives to the local population who are already involved in traditional bee-keeping will also help boost the income of the people.

The reforestation of Magha-Bamumbu will help in regenerating the soil thereby avoiding erosions and landslides. It will also contribute towards the protection of the water catchments of the area.