Approximately 40 per cent of Cameroon is forested. Yet more than three million hectares of these forests have been cleared since 1990. Cambalsa has been given the opportunity to balance biodiversity conservation with development. Being on a less industrial scale - 5,000 Ha in Balsa planting and up to 5,000 Ha in Non-Timber Forest Products such as Manuka, Vanilla Trees - Cambalsa would employ local and indigenous community-based workforce thus supporting the theory that community-based conservation is better both for the forests, wildlife and population that dwell in them, which in turn reinforces the positive consent and ideology of a new model of Agroforestry. Our well-designed agroforestry system will be our infrastructure that will allow more wildlife than mass plantations and which may be more productive than jungles.
We will require an undertaking of assessments on the level of biodiversity to identify areas for replanting to ensure that ecological integrity is maintained, thus achieving net zero deforestation from new activities, whilst maintaining biodiversity and conservation value. Cameroon has critical habitat - areas of high biodiversity value which takes into account both global and national priorities and builds on the conservation principles of 'vulnerability' (threat) and 'irreplaceability' (rarity/restricted distribution). It is identified based on five criteria that address habitat of significant importance to threatened, endemic, congregatory and migratory species, threatened or unique ecosystems and key evolutionary processes (IFC 2019) We are investing in protecting and enhancing the natural ecosystems with a systematic approach to protect and preserve the natural environment by creating net positive impact. The list of flora and fauna in Cameroon is extensive: 8,260 plant species 409 mammal species 690 bird species 250 reptile species 200 amphibian species. Among these species are endemic, critically dangered, vulnerable and extinct categories.
Cambalsa will undertake scoping surveys to assess and monitor the diversity of flora and fauna and support the spatial modelling of conservation threats. We will partner with Cameroon established and new wildlife NGOs in the field to ensure the best information is available. Once identified, we will implement an infrastructure to protect Cameroons most threatened wildlife areas in our zone. We will facilitate the adoption of all relevant certification in the forestry sector to ensure good code of practice. We will work closely with local partner organisations to increase wildlife authority presence throughout our zone in the form of wildlife rangers to ensure anti-poaching and protection is instilled. We will use pioneering technology including acoustic sensors, surveillance and real-time community-based monitoring such as ForestLink system to ensure accurate information is updated daily highlighting potential shifts in movements and migration of species of concern. There is much potential to implement projects to reintroduce the extinct declared species - the Cheetah and the Painted dog working with partners such as Cheetah Conservation Fund, The Big Cat Sanctuary and The Aspinall Foundation.
We aim to work with the local community, thus enabling there to be positive impact across more communities and environment by creating employment
The delicate ecosystem in Cameroon is inextricably linked with all human actions and what may seem to be a simple and straightforward implemented conservation plan to support the environment side will be a very multi-faceted issue, needing the constant updating and expertise of many people and entities to ensure our conservation objectives are met.