Just barely eight months since the Executive Director of French Charity Man & Nature paid an official visit to its Cameroon partner the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF), Olivier Behra has made another trip to the organization. Unlike his last visit in January which aimed at assessing the progress of the Great Apes Program in the Lebialem Highlands, this time, Mr. Behra came to assess the progress of the recently launched Net Positive Impact (NPI) project funded by Man & Nature. Mr. Behra and his Cameroon counterpart used the visit to seek ways of valorizing the production and processing of palm oil in the SW Region of Cameroon to support conservation efforts.

During his visit which lasted from September 8-11, 2013 Mr. Behra visited a refinery plant and industrial presses to evaluate the possibilities of a modern yet sustainable way of transforming local palm oil. The aim of the visit was to create a chain of palm oil production for local people e for the management of the proposed Tofala Hill wildlife Sanctuary. This is in line with looking for sustainable ways of valorizing the palm oil project to benefit more people with focus on supporting cross river gorilla conservation in the Southwest Cameroon.

Mr. Behra also paid a visit to the Limbe Wildlife Center where he adopted the lone Cross River Gorilla in captivity popularly called “Nyango”. He signed some official documents and pledged to support its well being.

At the end of the mission, Mr. Behra renewed his commitment to continue the support of ERuDeF in S.W Cameroon focusing on the as the potential for the valorization of sustainable palm oil production.

By Forbe Hodu