Biodiversity Conservation
Landscape-scale ecosystem protection built on community stewardship, not fences.
THE PROBLEM
Habitat loss, deforestation, poaching, invasive species, and climate change are driving species decline and eroding the ecosystem services millions depend on for food, water, and livelihoods.
OUR APPROACH
Landscape-scale conservation combining ecosystem protection, habitat restoration, and community governance, applying a One Health lens across ecosystems, wildlife, and people.
THE PROBLEM
- 9 CCMAs established in the Dja Landscape
- Community wildlife surveillance strengthened
- Conservation across key Congo Basin corridors
WHERE WE’RE HEADED
- Expand community-led conservation models
- Advance recognition of community-protected areas
- Scale One Health approaches landscape-wide
Climate Change
Building the adaptive capacity that vulnerable landscapes still lack.
THE PROBLEM
Rising droughts, floods, and land degradation are deepening food insecurity, while many African landscapes lack the capacity to adapt to growing climate risk.
OUR APPROACH
Climate resilience through ecosystem restoration, agroecology, and climate-smart agriculture, integrating adaptation and mitigation into every programme.
THE PROBLEM
- Climate resilience embedded across programmes
- Agroforestry & sustainable land management
- Landscape strategies linking conservation and climate
WHERE WE’RE HEADED
- Scale climate-smart, regenerative land use
- Expand nature-based solutions
- Unlock climate finance & carbon markets
Renewable Energy
Clean power for households, health posts, and rural enterprise.
THE PROBLEM
Millions of rural Africans still rely on unsustainable biomass, driving deforestation, degradation, indoor air pollution, and limited economic opportunity.
OUR APPROACH
Clean energy solutions integrated into conservation, agriculture, health, and rural development programmes, not delivered as a standalone project.
THE PROBLEM
- Renewable energy in community planning
- Solar infrastructure in rural & health initiatives
- Partnerships for clean energy investment
WHERE WE’RE HEADED
- Expand solar access in rural landscapes
- Power community enterprises & health services
- Promote clean cooking technologies
Governance
The institutions that make conservation and development last.
THE PROBLEM
Weak environmental governance and limited recognition of natural capital continue to undermine conservation and development outcomes across Africa.
OUR APPROACH
Inclusive decision-making, natural capital accounting, and institutional capacity-building that positions communities as active stewards, not passive recipients.
THE PROBLEM
- Community governance structures established
- Natural Capital Accounting advanced
- Partnerships with government institutions
WHERE WE’RE HEADED
- Advance NCA at national scale
- Strengthen landscape governance systems
- Promote innovative conservation financing
Flagship programmes
Where the four pillars meet the ground named initiatives anchoring our work in specific landscapes.
DJA LANDSCAPE
Community Conservation Management Areas
Nine community-managed conservation areas across ~30,633 hectares in the northern Dja Landscape turning local communities into active custodians of biodiversity.
CONGO BASIN CORRIDOR
Dja–Ngoyla Interzone Conservation & Connectivity
Protecting 315,518 hectares of high-integrity forest, securing the wildlife corridor between the Dja and Ngoyla Reserves against logging, mining, and encroachment.
INERGRATED FRAMEWORK
Biodiversity, One Health & Natural Capital
Wildlife surveillance, forest monitoring, and ecosystem valuation combined into one framework including new financing mechanisms like payments for ecosystem services.
LANDSCAPE RESTORATION
Climate Resilience & Agroecological Transformation
Ecosystem restoration, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture helping communities adapt to climate change while producing more sustainably.
NOUN DIVISION
Cooperative Enterprise Platform (CEP)
Transforming eight agricultural cooperatives into climate-smart hubs with mechanization, processing, and market access anchored by the CPAN Agrobusiness Hub in Foumban.
COMMUNITY-LED
Livelihoods, Youth & Enterprise Development
Livestock production, agroecology, women’s economic empowerment, and youth leadership building local ownership alongside environmental impact.
See these programmes on the ground — explore the landscapes where they work.
The African Conservation and Development Foundation (ACDEF)
is a UK registered organization, Headquartered in Cambridge and works for nature and people in Africa
Charity No. 1125961
Company No. 6334400
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