The Department of Conservation

In 2014, after organizational restructuring, the Department of Forest Resources Management and Conservation was created to pilot the upgrading and management of these conservation blocks.  There were further restructuring at the level of the Department of Forest Resource Management and Conservation which led to the creation of the Department of Conservation in March 2016.

The Department of Conservation consist of three programs namely, Biodiversity Research program, Education for Sustainable Development Program, and Protected Area Creation and Management Program.

Mission

The Department of Conservation has as mission to promote the long term conservation of threatened biodiversity in Africa.

Goal

The department seeks to safeguard globally threatened species through, biodiversity research, environmental education and creation and effective management of protected areas within the African continent.

Objectives

Research and Bio-monitoring

This programme seeks to save the last globally threatened species of biodiversity through research and bio-monitoring in their range habitats. Key species include of interest include but not limited to gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, drills, amphibians and birds

Protected Area Creation and Management

The programme seeks to support the effort of the government of Cameroon to create and manage a system of protected areas across key biodiversity areas of Cameroon.

Conservation Management Corridor program

This programme seeks to ensure genetic connectivity between protected areas

Education for Sustainable Development

This programme seeks to reduce anthropogenic threats, increase biodiversity population and promote environmental sustainability through mobilization, education and training.

BIRD CONSERVATION

Saving the endemic birds of Cameroon and protecting their environment

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Landscape and Projects

ERuDeF has put in place a Landscape Based Approached for the effective conservation of species in their range habitat. These include the Lebialem Highland Conservation Landscape, the Bamenda Highlands Landscape, the Tchabal Mbabo Mountains Landscape, the Deng Deng National Park and Dja Corridor Landscape and the Megeme Gorilla Sanctuary. All of these sites are hot spots for biodiversity conservation. This is a 15 years initiative with three phases of 5 years each. Different landscapes have different projects and interest which are monitored and evaluated quarterly, half yearly and yearly.

Description of Landscapes and Projects running in each landscape

Achievements

ERuDeF has been working in Cameroon for the past 20 years to conserve wild habitats through creation and management of wild habitats.

2007-2010

Achievement

In 2010 ERuDeF created the Lebialem Conservation Complex and carried out bird survey in 2012 around the Lebialem Highlands.
It has also been involved in the development of the Nigerian-Cameroon action plans for the conservation of Cross River gorillas (2007) and the Nigerian-Cameroon chimpanzees (2010).
2007-2010
2014-2019

Achievement

In 2014 ERuDeF supported the government of Cameroon in creating the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary which harbours the critically endangered Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) and Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti).
ERuDeF also assisted the government of Cameroon to develop the management and business plans for the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary 2019.

ERuDeF supported the government of Cameroon to create the proposed Njoawi Fotabong III Essoh Ettah Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Tofala-Mone wildlife corridor. These two biodiversity hotspots are respectively home to the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti), African Elephant (Loxodonta africana), Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) and the Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus).
2014-2019
2014-2016

Achievement

ERuDeF was part of the consortium of partners that supported the government of Cameroon in the development of the management plans of respectively the Deng Deng National Park in 2015 and Mt Cameroon National Park in 2014. ERuDeF also contributed to restore the population of Microbelinia bisiculata (Zebra wood) in 2016 on mount Cameroon.
2014-2016
2016-2018

Achievement

ERuDeF have actively been involved in 2016-2018 to support the government of Cameroon to create the proposed Mount Muanenguba Herpetological Sanctuary which harbours the Goliath frog(Conraua goliath), Manengouba Long-fingered frog (Cardioglossa Manengouba) and Nsong Long-fingered frog (Cardioglossa trifasciata).
2016-2018
2016

Achievement

In 2016, ERuDeF carried out base line surveys on amphibians in 2016 around mount Nlonako.
2016
2017-2019

Achievement

To help allow genetic connectivity among species, ERuDeF is supporting the creation of ecological corridors in the Southwest (Tofala Mone, 2017) and East regions of Cameroon 2019.
2017-2019

Impacting Lives and Strengthening Civil Societies

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Community Members

Tofala-Mone project have successfully build the capacity of over 40 community members from Etoko, Egbemo, Tofu, Bakumba,  Ayukaba, Chinda, Kendem and Bokwa on forest watcher application installed in Smartphone to monitor deforestation in the community and state forest.

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Communities Created

 Tofala-Mone East corridor rainforest community conservation project has successful created 4 communities In the Lebialem Highlands and precisely in the Tofala-Mone corridor.  The community forests created in the landscape serve as a genetic corridor linking the cross river gorilla of the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary to those of those of the Takamanda National Park through the Mone River.