Assessing wildlife populationdynamics in southeast Cameroon

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Combating illegal wood tradePoaching threat to conservation efforts

Wildlife film projection attracts hundreds

Locals drilled on community forestry

Rallying against HIV/AIDS

The men on the ground

November/December 2007 edition

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WWF Jengi Newsletter, November/December 2007 edition

AASSESSING WILDLIFE DYNAMICS IN SSOUTHEAST CCAMEROON

""The spatial distribution of elephant popula-tion in Lobeke National Park remainsessentially stable though fragmented due to

poaching and logging activities in and aroundthe park, respectively," says Dr. ZacharieNzooh, WWF Jengi Scientific Advisor. Dr.Nzooh's assertion could not have come by ifdata had not been painstakingly collectedthrough WWF's ecological monitoring pro-gramme. The monitoring programme that was introducedin 1999 and reviewed in 2002 has made it pos-sible for WWF to establish the dynamics andpopulation trends of flagship species (ele-phants, gorillas, chimpanzees and bongoantelopes) in Boumba Bek, Nki and Lobekeparks. These data are necessary for the orien-tation of strategies for better management ofnatural resources in and around protectedareas in southeast Cameroon.Thanks to monitoring, estimates of densities oflarge mammals and great apes (gorillas andchimpanzees) and poaching zones have beenestablished.

Wildlife trendsFlagship species populations have remainedwholly stable. In Boumba Bek, that harboursabout 1000 elephants, spatial distribution of thislarge mammal shows a steady movementtowards the north of the park, according torecent data collected during reconnaissanceand surveillance missions. "Between 2004 and2007 spatial distribution of elephants has beengradually expanding from the south to the north.Increased surveillance in the north and poach-

ing pressure in the southhave forced most of theanimals to drift north insearch of safer havens,"states Dr. Nzooh.In Nki, recent monitoringreport showed an increasein elephant population.Between 1998 and 2006the number of elephantsrose from 1547 to 2577.The south western zone ofthe park is consideredmost important due to highconcentration of largemammals around Ikwa for-est clearing. Gorilla and chimpanzee popula-tions are also relatively stable. Gorilla population is reportedly high in thesouthern part of WWF Jengi Programme areawhile increase in gorilla poaching in the northhas orchestrated a decline in the number of thisgreat ape. This trend was established from datacollected on monitoring of bush meat trade dur-ing anti-poaching patrols.With regards to bongo, the most sought after bysport hunters, monitoring of sport hunting con-cessions and community hunting zonesrevealed a fragmentation of the population ofthis mammal. This could be attributed to loggingactivities, poaching and unsustainable sporthunting. "Hunting quota for bongo is not scien-tifically established. Results from sport huntingzones indicate a variation in the quality of tro-phy from sub-adult to old bongo. This is a prob-

lem," complained Dr. Nzooh.In-forest monitoring, according to the ScientificAdvisor, is done in three ways. "We monitoranimals sighted in selected forest clearings,considering high or low intensity of humanpressures. Through this we can easily detectand interpret the frequency, time spent andbehaviour of the animal sighted," Dr. Nzoohexplained. Signs of animals and human activities are alsorecorded during in-forest reconnaissance mis-sions. There is the triennial large mammal sur-vey using standard methods to evaluate trendsin densities and spatial distribution. Data arefurther collected during surveillance patrols tocombat poaching. During such missions, gamerangers destroy poachers' camps, dismantlesnare cables and gather information on largemammal activities.

Progress made so far...

PPPPoaching is hampering WWF's eco-logical monitoring efforts, makingthis activity ever more indispensa-

ble for the establishment of a properframework for protection of wildlife. In thesoutheast of Nki, trans-boundary poach-ing is rife. Poachers pitch tents in Bwala,a town in neighbouring Congo Brazzavillefrom where they cross into the park tohunt. In Socambo, south of Lobeke, poaching ison the increase. Poachers hunt in thesouthern zone of Nki and sell the meat ina flourishing bush meat market inOuesso, a town in Congo Brazzaville,according to WWF Research Assistant forNki, Charles Bassama.Poaching also remains a major problem inthe Ngoyla-Mintom corridor, that consti-tutes Cameroon’s segment of TRIDOMinter-zone, which links protected areas inCameroon (Dja) Minkebe (Gabon) Odzala(Congo Brazzaville). Poaching is orches-trated by existing network of new miningand logging companies, with the complici-ty of locals. Illegal hunting is intensive inthe northern segment of the zone (Lomie,

Ngoyla) as well as in the south (Djoum,Mintom, Ntam, Lele, Mbalam). Hugeamount of elephant tusks is smuggledout to Gabon and Congo into Cameroonacross River Ayina.

SolutionsWith data from ecological monitoring,WWF alongside Cameroon's Ministry ofForestry and Wildlife, MINFOF, haveenvisaged plans to reinforce protection ofwildlife and ensure sustainable manage-ment of natural resources. A surveillancebase will soon go operational inSocambo on Cameroon's border withCongo. With the creation of this base, itis hoped anti-poaching operations byMINFOF will be more effective. Moregame rangers have been brought in tobolster security. An anti-poaching experthas been hired to train rangers and fol-low up day-to-day activities on the field.Game rangers from Cameroon and gen-darmes from Congo carry out joint anti-poaching operations in the southeast ofNki. Workshops, aimed at defining the process

and data needed to fix a sustainable hunt-ing quota and define sustainable safarihunting norms have been organised.

...Poaching threat to conservation efforts

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A poacher’s ‘harvest’ in Ngoyla-Mintom

Gorillas in Lobeke forest clearing

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IIn one of the trails in Lobeke NationalPark, Southeast Cameroon, LikamboSimon, WWF Junior Field Assistant, led

a team to Petite Savane, one of the forestclearings where ecological monitoring hadbeen programmed. For the next five days,the team will observe animals that enterthe clearing and note the sound made byothers in the surrounding forest. "We register the specie and number oftimes it makes a sound. For those thatenter the clearing, we note the time theyspend, what they do and when they leave.For those that walk in groups, we endeav-our to find out the number of males,females and babies," Likambo explained.The clearings are mostly visited by gorillas,elephants, sitatunga, colobus moneys, buf-faloes and sometimes bongo antelopes.Not a very easy job, the team usually takesalong food rations, tents, torch lamps,cooking utensils and other basic necessi-ties to guarantee in-forest survival. Theyrun the risk of confronting elephants andgorillas that feel disturbed in their naturalhabitats. "Gorillas, especially, can be veryaggressive; the least disturbance putsthem on the offensive. However, we areused to them and know how to avoidthem."

The Junior Field Assistant has beeninvolved in monitoring in Lobeke for eightyears now. According to him, monitoringremains the most credible method toestablish wildlife trends. "We use the datacollected from the field to prepare an annu-

al report that presentsthe situation of wildlife inthe park. Our reportshave so far shown thatLobeke is very rich interms of wildlife," he stat-ed. "The number of animalsthat visit clearings inLobeke is on theincrease. This can partlybe attributed to thedecline in poachinginside and around thepark that largely scaredthe animals," Likambosaid. The monitoring teamwas happy that gamerangers now accompanythem into the forest. "Gone are those dayswhen poachers nevergot scared upon seeing

us in the park. I think poaching is on thedecline inside the park thanks to this newapproach," he stated.Ecological monitoring is being carried outin six forest clearings in Lobeke, includingDjembe, a WWF base inside the park.

The men on the ground

WWWWWFWF Jengi film projec-tion on protectedwildlife species

attracted several hundreds ofpeople in Ngatto, a villageclose to Boumba Bek NationalPark. The projection wasaimed at sensitising the popu-lation on protected flagshipspecies, dissuade them fromillegal hunting and teach themconservation and nature pro-tection. This was accom-plished thanks to a quizthrough which WWF explainedits mission, the concept of con-servation, the different classesof protected species and whythey are classified as such. The crowd that turned out towatch the film, was awe-struckat the similarities betweengreat apes and human beings.All through the projection,there were moments of laugh-ter, sadness and sympathy, as the graphicpresentation of the grievous conse-quences extinction of wildlife and the for-est will have on the ecosystem were vivid-ly presented.One of the villagers, Ahonda Cael, wasupbeat after the projection. “I wished you

could come again soon. I now understandwhy we have to protect the animals andthe forest,” she said.According to Expedit Fouda, WWF ParkAssistant for Boumba Bek, WWF is mov-ing from words to images to appeal bothrationally and emotionally to the people todesist from destroying the forest and

wildlife. “I think the reaction of the popula-tion was positive. Many people came tous after the projection eager to know moreabout conservation. They wanted to knowwhy some people are called poachers, thelaw that sanctions this crime and alterna-tives to poaching,” Expedit said.

Wildlife film projection attracts hundreds

Ngatto villagers thronged venue to watch film on wildlife: (Inset) movie entitled ‘Great Apes’

Likambo, WWF Junior Field Assistant leading team to Petite Savane clearing

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WWF Jengi Newsletter, November/December 2007 edition 3

TTTThough reduced to the lowestebb, illegal logging remains athreat to the forest in southeast

Cameroon. This activity, accordingLemotio Jean, Divisional Service Headfor Forestry in Boumba et NgokoDivision, is rampant in a logging towncalled Kika, situated southwest ofLobeke National Park. Here wood isillegally exploited and smuggledacross River Ngoko into neighbouringCongo Brazzaville."Illegal logging is on the decline but wecannot fold our arms and say all iswell. We recently discovered, duringan operation near Lobeke that illegalexploiters have been operating insidelogging concessions. We seized threechainsaws and destroyed 4000 piecesof wood," said Lemotio. In the face ofthis repression, the illegal loggers aresaid to have crossed over to CongoBrazzaville, where they hoped to find asafer haven. "Some of them crossedthe river into Congo Brazzaville, butacting under the auspices of Tri-national de la Sangha, TNS, accord,we pursued them and reduced thewoods into shreds. This was intendedto dissuade them from continuingthese activities," explained Lemotio.At first the impounded wood was soldand a fine levied on the defaulter. Now

the approach ischanging. "Weused to arrest andslam a fine onthem. But nowthat we have dis-covered theyoperate in loggingconcessions, weshall do every-thing to ensurethat they arecharged to courthenceforth," hesaid.A l p h o n s eNgniado, SeniorForest Officer,WWF Jengi,thinks constantsurveillance andawareness-rais-ing on the harmsof illegal loggingare the appropri-ate ways to wipeout the practice."Illegal logging remains harmful to thecommunity because proceeds go tothe coffers of individuals to the detri-ment of the entire population. Theadministrative and forestry authoritiesmust do their best to check this prac-

tice," Ngniado advised. The people, hecontinued, must also be encouraged toset up community forest enterpriseswhose proceeds benefit the communi-ty and provide safeguards for sustain-able forest management.

Combating illegal wood trade

SSSSeven communities inBoumba Bek havebeen sensitised on

management of communityforest and the disadvantagesof illegal logging.The Network of CommunityForest ManagementEnterprises, REGEFOC, anda local NGO, CIFAD, pivotedthe awareness raising cam-paign with the support ofWWF. For eight days, theteam moved from village tovillage explaining the lawsspelling out modalities foracquiring community forest.Villagers listened to adviceon how to obtain and man-age community forest enter-prises and were urged todenounce illegal loggers and eschewsales by standing volume. Locals, however, insisted that proceedsfrom community forest be reinvested inlocal development projects, which many

claimed has not been the case. They alsocomplained of lack of training and wereworried about the administration'sdemand for legalised paper for the com-mercialisation of non-timber forest prod-uct. Spurred by the lesson learnt, the vil-

lagers intercepted a truck trans-porting illegally exploited wood. According to Alphonse Ngniado,WWF Forest Officer, the aware-ness raising campaign wasprompted by evaluation report ofcommunity forest enterprisesunder exploitation. "The reportrevealed that local people do notyet understand the concept ofcommunity forest and are increas-ingly involved in illegal loggingand sale by standing volume,"said the Forest Officer. "We alsotaught them how to manage rev-enues generated from exploitationof the forest."Community forests are 5000ha offorest portions attributed to localcommunities for exploitation for 25years renewable. Exploitation is

carried out on the basis of a managementplan and proceeds are used to financemicro-projects in the communities with theaim of alleviating poverty.

Locals drilled on community forestry

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WWF Jengi Newsletter, November/December 2007 edition4

Truck transporting illegal wood impounded by forestry authorities

Local sawmill

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Rallying against HIV/AIDSHHHHIV/AIDS and hernia still pose seri-

ous threats in southeast Cameroonespecially amongst indigenous

Baka pygmies. That is why WWF Jengi,through its integrated health and environ-ment project, has been supporting initia-tives of local health districts, catholic mis-sionaries and education institutions to rollback the pandemic.The catholic hospital in Salapoumbe, atown sandwiched between Lobeke andBoumba Bek national parks, has beenone of the frontline partners in the cam-paign against the pandemic. Rev. SisterGenevieve, who runs the hospital, saysAIDS remains the biggest headacheamong Baka pygmies. "Baka pygmies arestill diagnosed with the virus. This is part-ly explained by the fact that they are stillreticent about condom use. We take careof them because we have the necessarymedicine to treat them," explains SisterGenevieve.The hospital is finding it difficult run giventhat Baka pygmies are too poor to picktheir medical bills. "They do not havemoney but they make efforts. Some comewith FCFA 10,000, others with FCFA15,000. Some have cocoa plantations andare ready to take treatment and pay later.We treat urgent cases for free," SisterGenevieve discloses.

Confronted with these difficulties, the hos-pital has found a helper in one of the ninelocal wildlife management committees,known by its French Acronym asCOVAREF that manages some of thecommunity hunting zones in the area."COVAREF has given us financial assis-tance and has pledged to do more," shesaid.

In the same vein, WWF has given financialassistance to the hospital for the training oftraditional midwives and construction of pitlatrines. Effort is made to fight HIV/AIDSamongst youths through Health andEnvironment Clubs created in someschools in the area. A recent HIV/AIDSscreening witnessed enthusiastic partici-pation of students in a secondary school inYokadouma.

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Students queue up for HIV/AIDS screening in Yokadouma

WWF Jengi Newsletter, November/December 2007 edition 5

II nn a makeshift classroom in a village aroundMintom, in Ngoyla-Mintom corridor, thatconstitutes Cameroon's segment of

TRIDOM inter-zone, pupils braved the oddsand listened to lessons generously dished outby their vicarious teacher. The children, mostof them bare foot, have been sitting oncement blocks in an open shed without wallsto shield them from the occasional storms that

sometimes sweep across their village. Some150km away, beneath the earth in a villagecalled Mballam, lies huge deposit of iron orewhich a mining company has begun exploit-ing. Will the coming of the miners improve ontheir lots or will it make things even harder forthem? They seem to ask. So far the miningcompany has promised to build schools andhospitals, but will they be very keen on

respecting environmental norms? WWF hasbeen active in the Ngoyla-Mintom inter-zone,seeking to establish collaborative conventionswith the miners to get them buy in to environ-mental protection with some successes.However, poverty remains the main problem inthe area, and plays very much on the people'sperception of what has been happening intheir environment in recent months.

Youths of tomorrow in Mintom

Publisher: WWF Jengi Southeast Forest Programme

Editor-in-Chief: Pegue Manga (Fmanga@wwfcarpo.org)Editorial Advisers: Peter Ngea (Pngea@wwfcarpo.org)

Dr. Leonard Usongo (Lusongo@wwfcarpo.org)

Editor: Collaborators: Zacharie Nzooh, Louis Defo, Alphonse Ngniado, Expedit

Fouda, Charles Bassama, Louis Ngono, Njounan Tegomo, Jean Paul Mahop,

Patrice Ngalla, Ndinga Hilaire and Vincent Anong

Website: www.panda.org/Jengi

LLLLobeke National Park will soon have ascientific committee that will exam-ine the quality of research and eco-

logical monitoring activities in the 2173Km2 park. This was one of the decisionsthe first ever Lobeke management com-mittee meeting that held in Mambele vil-lage situated 30km from the park, tookrecently. The committee will coordinate and ensure

harmony in all scientific activities and vali-date results of research in the park. It willfacilitate publication and implementationof research results and establish the rele-vance of sustainable management of nat-ural resources to the area. Chaired by the government administrator

for Boumba et Ngoko Division, the com-mittee evaluated the implementation of thepark's management plan for 2006 - 2007

and approved the work plan and budg-et for 2008. Park authorities plan to complete invn-tories on parrot capture sites and toestablish a consultative platformbetween capturers and conservationservices. Anti-poaching operations willalso be heightened with the creation ofcontrol posts in areas where poachinghas been intense around the park.Meanwhile activities that provide alter-natives to bush meat consumption willbe encouraged.Joint patrols will be beefed up withCongo Brazzaville and Central African

Republic under the auspices of the Tri-national de la Sangha, TNS, trans-bound-ary conservation initiative by virtue of theimplication of local communities and theprivate sector in the management of natu-ral resources. Greater supervision of community andsports hunting zones will be ensured andsteps taken to guarantee that margin-alised local people benefit from revenuesaccruing from trophy hunting. The government of Cameroon declaredLobeke "national park" on March 19, 2001.Surrounded by six sport hunting zonesand five logging concessions, Lobeke hasone of the highest densities of forest mam-mals in the Congo Basin with an estimat-ed population of 2000 elephants and 3000gorillas. Lobeke is contiguous to DzangaSangha in Central African Republic andNouabale Ndoki national park in Republicof Congo Brazzaville. The three parksmake up the famous Tri-national de laSangha trans-boundary conservation ini-tiative.

Pioneer meeting of Lobeke NationalPark management committee

WWF Jengi staff amongstSSWG conservation

ambassadors

SSSSocial Science Working Group, SSWG, aglobal community of conservation sci-entists and practitioners, recently nomi-

nated Olivier Njounan Tegomo, WWF JengiSenior Field Research Assistant, as one of itseight young African ambassador fellowshipwinners. Tegomo was chosen amongst 40applicants and is expected to serve as theumbilical cord linking WWF Jengi to theSSWG. The latter is dedicated to strengthen-ing conservation social science and its appli-cation to conservation practice. This dovetailswell with a study on access rights on indige-nous Baka people and the local wildlife man-agement committee, COVAREF."With the SSWG we can present our achieve-ments with regards to conservation of biodi-versity and social sciences. This is demon-strated through the creation of COVAREFsand study on access rights of indigenousBaka pygmies residing around protectedareas in southeast Cameroon," explainedOlivier. Established in 2003 SSWG is an appendage

of Society for Conservation Biologists. It cre-ates forums and mechanisms for informationexchange, promote dialogue and debate, andbuild social science capacity among conserva-tion practitioners.

Participants at management committee meeting in Camp Kombo

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WWF Jengi Newsletter, November/December 2007 edition6