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[/one_third]The Management of the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) are excited to express their appreciation to all local, national and international constituents, who provided supports towards the growth of the organisation in 2017. Though a challenging year, full of tribulations, we continue to make major strides in supporting the Cameroon Government’s policies and her international commitments.
The Cameroon Anglophone crises played a major role in slowing down our activities. We are however delighted to have launched a major international agreement with the International Trees Foundation to launch the Mount Bamboutos Initiative for the restoration of the second major water tower (watershed) in Cameroon, after Adamawa plateau. This is a major contribution towards meeting the Bonn challenge and the AFRIOO Initiative of the African Union.
In the course of 2017, we continued to focus on the development of protected areas and corridors in Cameroon. Our attention was focused on Mount Muanenguba, Mak-Betchou, Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the Tofala Mone corridor and the Deng Deng National Park-Dja Reserve corridor. New potential sites were identified and a research programme under development. These are Mount Nlonako, Kimbi Fungom National Park and the Proposed Essimbi-Beba-Befang Wildlife Sanctuary. We are immensely grateful to Rainforest Trust, TUSK-USA/UK, Man and Nature, African Conservation Foundation and IUCN. UNEP/SUFACHAC and UNEP/Bakossi projects generous supports moved towards creation and more viable and functional ecosystems and protected areas of particular significance is the UNEP/Bakossi project that seeks to conserve our marine environments and will be contributing towards the creation of the first marine protected area in Cameroon.
Your collaborative efforts were immense in helping us at ERuDeF accomplish our work towards saving Cross River Gorillas, Western Lowland Gorillas, Nigeria Cameroon Chimpanzees, Elephants, birds, and amphibians.
Our conservation efforts wouldn’t have been more successful without the support of our Livelihoods and Economic Development Programme, especially in our key signature project in the Lebialem Highlands and the Cameroon Mountains landscape in general. Providing conservation incentive is a key cornerstone to the survival of all conservation programmes across the globe. We appreciate the support received from V. Mane Fils, Mane Foundation, Man and Nature, UNDP/GEF, COMIFAC, GIZ, AFD and Tusk Trust towards the development of the Livelihoods and Economic Development Programmes. The generous support of Trees for the Future is helping us reach out to several thousand peasant farmers each year. Over 2million trees were planted in peasant fields, watersheds and schools throughout Cameroon Mountains.
ERuDeF continued to position its self as one of the leading national biodiversity research institution in Cameroon. Through our conservation programme, ERuDeF and her Institute of Biodiversity and Non-Profit Studies, we continued to make significant strides in the areas of applied conservation, training and research. In early 2018, we will be launching the Cameroon Mountains Universities Network (CaMUN) as part of the national research initiatives involving a number of universities in Cameroon. Located on the Cameroon Volcanic Line, our work at ERuDeF Institute of Biodiversity and Non-Profit Studies have been supported by the African Conservation Foundation, ERuDeF Endowment Fund and the Saint Monica University. We also acknowledge support from anonymous individuals.
At ERuDeF, we continue to provide support to other numerous initiatives across Cameroon and Africa, notably the Southwest Civil Society Organisations Network (SWECSON), the Anglophone Cameroon Civil Society Movement, the National Association of Traditional Rulers for the Restoration of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes (RecTRAD) and the Alliance for the Conservation of Great Apes in Central Africa (A-GSAC).
Finally, we continue to receive generous support from the Government of Cameroon through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Tourism and Leisure, and Planning and Regional Development.
At ERuDeF, we continue to advance environmental communication in Cameroon and Africa to promote environmental conservation, tourism, sustainable development and biodiversity. ERuDeF is proud to be leading in this area as we have launched three key publications in the last four years. These are The Green Vision Newspaper (leading environmental newspaper in Cameroon), The ERuDeF Impact Magazine (to become the African Conservation Impact Magazine in 2018) and the Cameroon Biodiversity Business Newsletter (the lead ABS news provider in Cameroon)
On behalf of our team at ERuDeF, we wish you a wonderful new year 2018.