The project will be carried out within the Dja Biosphere Reserve (DBR, 526,000 ha), in Cameroon’s Eastern region, within the TRIDOM landscape (Tri-National Dja-Odzala-Minkébé), more specifically in the Lomié district, around 8 hours by car from Yaoundé and 2 hours from the town of Yokadouma, home to AAFEBEN’s headquarters.
The DBR, with its rich diversity of primates, elephants, forest buffaloes, and numerous other species such as duikers, sitatungas and bongos, is threatened both within its boundaries and on its periphery by mining activities (cobalt, nickel, gold, diamonds), rubber plantations, and major infrastructure projects currently underway (a dam, a railway).
Local communities also lack the capacity to sustainably manage their natural resources, and cut down trees rather than collecting harvestable parts. They earn little added value from selling unprocessed raw materials, and sell at low prices, as an entire network of intermediaries operates within the value chain.
The project targets 10 community forests (ZIENGA-MELEME, AVILSO, GIC ECONOME, KOBAKA, COVINCO I, COBANCO, LABISSOMA, KOBAKAM, CFD5, BIGONGOL), located on the reserve’s periphery and belonging to an umbrella group called REFOCOD. The objective is to enhance the value of non-timber forest products (NTFPs, such as Djansang, wild mango, kola, Moabi, and Gnetum africanum), which can provide significant income for local populations, through promoting their sustainable management, processing and marketing.
350 Baka (a Pygmy ethnic group) and Bantu women living within the 10 community forests directly bordering the DBR will be the direct beneficiaries. As each woman typically supports around 7-8 people, indirect beneficiaries can be estimated at around 2,800 people.
