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ECOCLUB, Issue 92
Community forest ownership and management now covers a quarter of natural forests
in developing countries. Being owned and managed by the whole community means
that everyone has a stake in protecting the forest and managing it in a sustainable
manner. The situation in Shisong is different to many community forests, however.
Most commonly, the legal ownership and management of a forest is passed from the
state to local authorities and villagers. However, due to the extensive deforestation in
the region, Green Care will have to undertake an extensive tree planting programme to
reconnect several small patches of forest, rather than take control of an existing forest.
Green Care aims to plant a variety of native tree species to reconnect these fragments
and establish a large area of forest cover.
The site of the regenerated community forest will be the focus of ecotourism
development. Montane forest in northwest Cameroon is a vital habitat for over 148
bird species, many endemic. The forest also provides medicinal plants, some of which
face extinction. It is also home to several primate species and the forest has been
suggested as a potential site for a gorilla relocation project, once it is fully restored.
Green Care plans to build a series of trekking routes around the forest, for example
from Shisong to the forest, and to nearby waterfalls and caves. Other possible
ecotourism activities include horse riding and guided bird watching trips. Green Care
has identified a site nearby for a sustainable tourist campsite just outside the forest.
There are also many traditional farmhouses in the region that will be used for
overnight stays. There are other potential benefits from a community forest besides tourism and environmental benefits. It could
provide income from planting valuable tree species, such as red mahogany, which could be sustainably harvested. Other
potential income-generating activities include mushroom growing, planting eru (a creeper used for food) and beekeeping.
Is the Shisong region suitable for ecotourism?
There are several questions to be asked before trying to establish ecotourism in any region:
Does the region have the attributes for successful ecotourism?
Will this damage the environment?
Will it bring environmental benefits?
Will projects adhere to the fundamental principles of ecotourism, in terms of sustainability and environmental protection?
The highlands of northwest Cameroon are no unspoilt wilderness. The region is extensively farmed, although largely using low-
impact methods. The many eucalyptus plantations mean that little native forest remains and there is also a major problem with
forest fires. Despite this, the mountain scenery remains breathtaking, especially during the rainy season when the fields and
hillsides are covered with lush vegetation. This makes it ideal for trekking. The few remaining pockets of forest are rich with
wildlife, which means there is a strong environmental focus to treks.
In keeping with the fundamental values of ecotourism,
Green Care plan to include environmental education as a key aspect of their activities. Many of their members, who will lead the
treks, are experts on local plants and animals. By keeping trekking groups small, the leaders will have several opportunities to
talk about native species and how humans interact with the environment.
The remote villages and farming communities offer further cultural interest for visitors to the region. The region is certainly ‘off
the beaten track’ with little in the way of large scale tourism development. Green Care are committed to continuing this and
ensuring that all tourism projects are organised in a way that minimises negative impacts on the region’s culture and
environment. In this region, ecotourism is not so much about protecting the environment but supporting its restoration. Tourists
can support many environmental activities in the region. For example, tourist interest in the development of the community
forest will increase support and encouragement for this project, as well as funds to help pay for forest regeneration. For tourists,
there is an opportunity to experience the process of an environment being restored. This is the most intriguing aspect of
developing ecotourism in the region, and also an indication of one direction in which ecotourism may develop over time.
Helping to restore degraded environments has the potential to generate greater benefits than visiting pristine or unspoilt
environments, which are the focus of many ecotourism sites.
There is a distinct culture in the northwest highlands of Cameroon, which will supplement the environmental attractions the
region has to offer in any new tourism industry. The region is famous for arts and crafts and there is a museum in nearby Kumbo
run by a local artist, who made many of the exhibits. Visitors can also visit the fon’s palace in Kumbo or nearby Oku. The role
of the fon in Cameroonian culture is extremely important and dictates the activities of villages and tribes. Green Care members
can explain the complex social structures and traditions of fondom to visiting groups.
*About the author: Tim Woods is Natural Resources Research Editor at the Institute of Development Studies, University of
Sussex, Brighton, UK, Web: www.id21.org Email: throughthemines [at] yahoo.co.uk
A remaining fragment of montane forest. This
will be reconnected to other fragments to restore
forest cover
