Grappling with sustainable solutions for conservation, livelihoods and conflicts in biodiversity rich communities; Our Korup Rainforest story, Southwest region, Cameroon

There is growing literature at the interface of rural communities' livelihood and conservation of natural resources. The overarching issue of how and to what extent livelihood improvement for forest resource rich and dependent... [ view full abstract ]

There is growing literature at the interface of rural communities' livelihood and conservation of natural resources. The overarching issue of how and to what extent livelihood improvement for forest resource rich and dependent communities can be made convergent with conservation goals continues to remain topical (William et al 2004).  Present-day conservation policies generally aim at a win–win solution that can satisfy all interests. Despite the many problems that beset ICDPs and other efforts to integrate conservation and community livelihoods (Brechin et al. 2002), international instruments as well as national policy such as the Cameroonian forestry law advocate full involvement of local communities in the management of their natural resources so a to improve their livelihoods. 

 Korup was designated as Cameroon’s first rain forest national park in 1986. Due to its rich and endemic biodiversity, the park has been supported and managed by large, internationally-funded conservation and development schemes. Despite these investments, evidence suggests that biodiversity has been declining due to  bush meat hunting and habit conversion while livelihoods of local communities have also continued to drop. . Law enforcement has been a major instrument to protection of the biodiversity while conservation development agreements (CDAs), education for sustainable development and some village development measures (VDMs) alongside a cash based incentive system (Conservation bonuses and credits) have been used to engage communities with the aim of relieving pressure on the resources and improving livelihoods.  Land use conflicts have also been common in the area with devastating impacts on conservation and the socio-economic and cultural dynamics of affected communities. Land use conflicts due to agricultural expansion and logging by individuals also worsen livelihoodsThe methodologies we have used and lessons  learnt in the management of such enduring conflicts have been crucial to ensuring sustainable conservation and livelihood outcomes.

 There is therefore increasing urgency to identify the approaches, characteristics of the environment, models and the community in which success is most likely. This workshop is intended as a step in that direction using our example from the Korup Rainforest National Park in Cameroon as a working example from which to draw weaknesses, strength and opportunities and potential threats that can act as pointers to our team and other community based resource managers.We hope to achieve this through three short presentations by our team of delegates for 10 minutes each, a working groups exercise for 30 minutes and plenary for 30 minutes.