Services – Bridge Cameroon

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

With respect to the Cameroon forestry law of 1994 that gives rural communities access rights to forest resources in or around their villages and to effectively participate in the management of forest concessions in collaboration with logging companies, Bridge reorganised and trained 72 selected VFMCs around Manyu Division on their roles in the management of FMUs in accordance with the law. Focus has been on VFMC around FMUs: 11001, 11002, 11003/4 and 11006 all under being concessions of SEFECAM/SIENCAM. Bridge , on the invitation of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, carried out the aforementioned trainings within the framework of the implementation of activities of the project “Amanagement et Suivi des forets du Cameroun” within the contractual obligation entered between MINFOF and Bridge under the Indebtedness and Development program (C2D) in pursuance to the dispositions of the convention of affectation No. CCMI233 01 G of 28th of June 2012 signed between AFD and the government of Cameroon. Against this backdrop, BRIDGE organised two-day workshops each in Eyumojock, Mamfe and Tinto Subdivisions respectively to train some selected VFMCs around the concerned FMUs in Manyu Division. The focus of the workshop sessions were on the
following:

» Forest and wildlife legislation in Cameroon;
» Importance of forest governance and its importance to the government;
» Importance, roles, responsibilities of VFMCs and their relationship with companies exploiting timber in the area and MINFOF;

» Importance of FMUs and their contribution to council and village development;
» User rights, surveillance and control of illegal activities in FMUs;
» Conflict management and resolution;

Community Health

Bridge worked to facilitate the implementation of the harmonized community intervention strategy whose goal is to ensure that at least 80% of the population adopts conducive practices to the promotion of healthy behaviours, the prevention and integrated management of diseases (Malaria, Acute Respiratory Infections, Diarrhoea, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Malnutrition, Onchocerciasis, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, etc.) including combating violence and promoting FP at community level, especially in priority intervention areas.
Bridge covers three health districts in the South West Region. Bridge was tasked with facilitating the implementation of Community Based Interventions in these districts which involved overseeing the day-to-day activities of recruited Community Health Workers (CHW) in their respective communities. In order to intensify the awareness of communities on the use of long-lasting insecticide treated nets as a means to protect them from malaria, which has been the number one killer disease in Cameroon for decades, Bridge through the community workers carried out a series of educational activities with the support of state health personnel working at the health districts and health areas.

» Continuously revise with CHWs the process on BCC, Advocacy, Counselling, home visits, diagnosis of uncomplicated malaria, educational talks, refer cases of early malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and pregnant women to the hospital (for ANC), etc. These CHWs work directly with the community in their homes, groups, during clinical sessions, and during public gatherings such as national days, cultural festivals, etc. on malaria control and prevention, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.

» Carry out monthly and quarterly supervision of all CHWs in the health districts covered by Bridge.

» Organize quarterly project coordination meetings with the CHWs at each of the Health Districts at health area levels with objectives to identify challenges faced by the CHW and develop local solutions to handle such difficulties.

Land Tenure / Landscape Management

Deforestation in Cameroon is on the rise – largely driven by expansion of agro-industry, slash and burn agriculture, logging, fuelwood demands, mining and infrastructure development. Competition for productive land in Cameroon has increased, notably with foreign companies seeking large tracts of land (10,000 hectares and above) for agricultural development. Since 2012 the Ministry of State Lands (MINDCAF) has engaged in a nationwide process to identify and reserve large areas of land to offer to future investors. In Cameroon (and the region) there has been limited practical experience in both drafting and implementing holistic and inclusive Land Use Plans (LUPs) that reconcile diverse interests in a negotiated and balanced way. The urgency to resolve land disputes, promote sustainable land management and reduce deforestation are high on the public agenda.

It is within this framework that MINEPAT instituted the national and Regional Zoning plan with the decentralization process in Cameroon which is also being established in most of the countries of the Congo basin, with communities’ involvement in decision making becoming an imperative as far as the management of land and resources are concerned. It is within this bracket that BRIDGE and its partners delved in mapping and LUP with aims to:

» Give the government and other concerned stakeholders accurate information on how communities use their lands and resources;
» Empower community members to be part of decision-making processes concerning their lands;
» Secure communities’ livelihood sources and
» Guide communities on how to plan and manage their lands and resources in a sustainable manner

Promoting REDD+

Within the mapping and forest governance activity, Bridge prepared grounds for REDD+ implementation through awareness-raising on climate change challenges on the need for community participation in conserving critical biodiversity using their maps. During the implementation of community participatory mapping and land use planning activity, Bridge promulgated and supported REDD+ process within some communities in Nguti, Mbonge, Bangem and Kumba 1 subdivisions of the South West Region of Cameroon. The awareness raised set up the grounds for effective participation of the local communities in climate friendly activities.Bridge held discussions and sensitized communities not only on climate change topics such as the purpose of conservation and the effects of deforestation, but also promoted informed decision making, re-afforestation, biodiversity adaptation, promotion of climate friendly livelihood activities – traditional conservation activities – proper agricultural practices, and practical land zoning of community land.
In support of this Bridge continued sensitising communities on REDD+ activities with the communities of Kake, Nongomadiba, Elum II, Muaku, Elah, Ndun, Eyandong, Muandelengo, Ekanjoh Bajoh, Nzimbeng, Nyandong1, Nyandong II, Eboka Bajoh, Mekom, Boka Bajoh, Epen and Jandu in Kupe Muanenguba, and Meme Divisions in the Southwest Region.

Sensitization of Communities on Conservation

Integrated biodiversity conservation is an important mission that Bridge is working on in collaboration with its partners the Jana Robeyst Trust Fund, Brevard Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo Wildlife conservation Fund, Chicago Board of Trade Endangered Species Fund; Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s PPG Conservation and Sustainability Fund.

Biodiversity conservation in Korup, Nlonako, Banyang Mbo, Southern Bakundu terrestrial ecosystems aim to conserve wildlife while at the same time improving livelihood of the local communities. Bridge plays a key role in the realisation of the field activities by ensuring restoration and management of ecosystem services in the context of a green economy operates within the following components

» Critical wildlife habitat conservation through creation/strengthening of protected areas of high conservation value;
» Sustainable farming practices and promotion of communities’ livelihood and biodiversity conservation through IESMP;
» Knowledge management, monitoring, and evaluation.