Implementing Community Conservation Management Areas (CCMAs): An Inclusive Approach to Conserving the Dja Biosphere Reserve
Implementing Community Conservation Management Areas (CCMAs): An Inclusive Approach to Conserving the Dja Biosphere Reserve
In response to increasing pressures on the Dja Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ACDEF Cameroon is implementing an innovative and inclusive approach based on the establishment of Community Conservation Management Areas (CCMAs).
This strategy places local communities at the heart of conservation efforts while promoting sustainable socio-economic development and the long-term protection of forest ecosystems.
1. Strengthening Local Governance through the Creation of Legal Associations
The establishment of community conservation management areas is first and foremost based on structured and legally recognized local governance. ACDEF–Cameroon supports communities living around the Dja Forest in the creation and formalization of legally registered community-based associations.
These entities serve as platforms for collective decision-making, ensuring transparent natural resource management, representation of local interests, and the sustainability of conservation actions.
2. Community Partnership as a Model for Sustainable Management
The model promoted by ACDEF Cameroon prioritizes participatory community partnerships, in which local populations play a central role in managing conservation areas.
This partnership is built on the co-development of resource-use rules, respect for traditional knowledge, and shared responsibility among communities, local authorities, and technical partners. This approach fosters local ownership of conservation actions and strengthens social cohesion.
3. Community Monitoring to Jointly Protect the Dja Forest
Community-based monitoring is a key pillar of the initiative. Members of local communities are trained and actively involved in field monitoring, combating illegal activities, and providing early alerts in the event of threats.
This participatory monitoring not only helps protect biodiversity but also strengthens a collective sense of responsibility toward the forest.
4. Creating Zero-Deforestation Green Enterprises
In order to reconcile conservation with improved livelihoods, ACDEF Cameroon supports the development of zero-deforestation green enterprises.
These sustainable economic initiatives including non-timber forest products, agroecology, and community-based ecotourism offer viable alternatives to destructive activities while generating environmentally responsible local income.
5. Engaged Stakeholders for Coordinated Conservation
The success of community conservation management areas relies on the involvement of multiple stakeholders: local and Indigenous communities, administrative and traditional authorities, government technical services, civil society organizations, and technical and financial partners.
This multi-stakeholder collaboration ensures a coherent, inclusive approach aligned with national and international conservation objectives.
6. A Local ACDEF Cameroon Team Integrated into Community Life
ACDEF Cameroon prioritizes a strong and lasting field presence through the deployment of a local team living within the communities. This close proximity enables continuous support, ongoing dialogue, and a deep understanding of local realities.
By sharing daily life with community members, the NGO’s team actively participates in community dynamics and strengthens the trust essential to the success of conservation actions.
“Living and working in the field alongside communities is far more than a technical approach; it is a deeply enriching human experience. Work sessions, particularly during agricultural activities, are often accompanied by collective singing and traditional dance steps. These joyful moments, filled with laughter, create an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding,”
explains Aydrey Welawapeck, Focal Point in Schouam.
ACDEF Cameroon teams readily join in, attempting sometimes clumsily but always cheerfully to replicate these traditional dance steps. These moments, often marked by laughter, make interactions more natural and strengthen bonds among all participants.
This closeness fosters more effective knowledge transfer based on direct experience and learning by doing. By learning together in the field, ACDEF Cameroon and local communities are building a living, shared, and sustainable model of conservation where the Dja Forest is protected not only through rules, but also through strong and sincere human relationships.