ACHIEVEMENTS




n 1987, WWF declared Cameroon one of six focal countries in Africa. WWF was instrumental in helping to create several new protected areas, including the Korup Rainforest National Park. This is one of the continent's most important rainforests, with significant populations of chimpanzees, elephants, and forest buffalo. WWF is also working closely with the Cameroon government to evolve legislation and codes on sustainable logging practices.

* In the biologically important and densely populated forests of Mount Kilum, WWF has worked with Bird Life and local community organizations to design and implement a community forest programme. Tree nurseries have been developed. As part of the Mount Kilum project, community forest patrols have also been set up and help provided in establishing local forest-based industries. In addition, WWF has helped develop a graziers' cooperative to reduce pressure from over-grazing in the forest.

* WWF's policy is to promote the sustainable use of medicinal plants and ensure that their potential for commercial use will benefit local communities. For example, it has undertaken research on the Prunus africana, an endangered montane forest tree, the bark of which contains chemicals useful in the treatment of benign prostate hypertrophy. Because of these properties, the Prunus africana bark has been extensively harvested, sometimes with considerable damage to the trees, for export to pharmaceutical companies in Europe. WWF, together with the Cameroon Department of Forestry and the International Centre for Research on Agroforestry, is studying the possibility of cultivating the trees and assisting local farmers to start plantations.




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Copyright 1996, The World Wide Fund For Nature