The impact of agro industry on great ape conservation and livelihoods in cameroon – stanley dinsi,...
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Transcript of The impact of agro industry on great ape conservation and livelihoods in cameroon – stanley dinsi,...
THE IMPACT OF AGRO-INDUSTRY ON GREAT APE CONSERVATION AND
LIVELIHOODS IN CAMEROON: THE CASE
OF CDC
Presented by
DINSI Stanley Chung, PhD
Hotel des DEPUTES-Y’de
26-11-2014
Presentation outline
• Background
• Presentation of study results
• Options for the way forward
• Conclusion
Background• Agriculture remains the backbone of Cameroon's
economy, employing 70 percent of its workforce, while providing 42 percent of its GDP and 30 percent of its export revenue.
• Agro-industrial activities of the CDC continue to impact conservation and local livelihood in the South West region of Cameroon.
• The quest for vast expanses of land for large-scale agriculture is greatly affecting conservation and local livelihoods in the SW region.
• Objective;The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of agro-industry on great apes conservation and Livelihood in the south west region of Cameroon.
Methodology
- Qualitative research methods (focus group discussions, participant observation, interviews)
- 4 days Interviews carried out with CDC field (Banana, Rubber and palm plantation staff) and administrative staff-responded to open ended questions
- 1 day of interview with LWC senior officials on collaboration with communities and CDC
- 2 days of interview with local communities on their interaction with the CDC and LWC and impact of their activities
- Desk research
Results 1: Positive impacts of the CDC on local livelihoods -1
1. Employment;
2. Land surrender scheme;
3. Land rental and land offer for crops
cultivation;
4. Social development programmes;
Impact of the CDC On Conservation (LWC)
1. Free donation of Food for animals;
2. Selling of palm fruits at reduced prices;
Negative impact of CDC on local livelihood-1
1. Loss of Land ownership rights;
2. Social Cost; Extremely low wages, poor working conditions and housing etc.
3. Environmental/human risks;
4. Loss of permanent forest estate;
5. Loss of alternative revenue;
Results 2. Threats of CDC on Conservation-1
1. Land grab for agro-industrial purposes to the disadvantage of conservation;
2. Threats to Mount Cameroon National Park;
3. Contamination of water source for wildlife;
Results 3. Positive impact of the LWC on local livelihood-1
1. Creation of alternative and sustainable income
sources;
a) Aframomum Project;
b) Green Leaf Vegetable Scheme;
2. Environmental Education;
Results 4. Challenges faced by the Cameroon Development Corporation
1. Render the CDC competitive;
2. Acquiring surplus land for the corporation;
3. Stabilizing crop prices;
4. Job creation;
5. Land surrender to local communities;
Challenges faced by the LWC
1. Equipping the Limbe Wild Lab;
2. Controlling floods;
3. Staffing and transport facilities;
4. Ensuring sufficient food supplies and financial means
Results 5. Options for the way forward
1. Measures to be undertaken by the CDC;
• Ameliorate working and living conditions of field workers in particular and corporation staff in general;
• Use less harmful or non-harmful insecticides, pesticides and fertilisers to be used on crops;
• Increases the quantity of food aid given to animals in the LWC;
• Develop a communication strategy to constantly inform communities of the corporations activities and events;
Measures reserved to the LWC
• Intensify and multiply the search for potential partners and donors for the center;
• Advertise for more volunteers services at national and international levels;
• Develop a more aggressive national and international communication strategy to attract assistance for the center;
Measures to be taken into account by government
• Conduct constant consultations and closely follow-up the respect of impact assessments of the corporation especially in its new sites;
• Follow-up the land rights and resettlement scheme of the CDC and ensure transparency on the part of local administrative and traditional authorities;
• Provide the necessary assistance to MINFOF staff working in the LWC;
• Re-lunch employment opportunities in the CDC which will greatly contribute in improving rural livelihoods in surrounding communities;
Measures to be considered by local communities
• Youths should obtain specialized certificates by opting for corresponding professional education;
• Traditional authorities in Fako should stop the illegal selling of community land for personal use;
• Communities should immediately report to competent authorities any corruption attempts by traditional and local administrative authorities in the sharing of land;
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION