SIXTH AND FINAL SESSION OF THE COMECA PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE
The sixth session of the COMECA Project Steering Committee was held on Friday, 14 June 2024 under the chairmanship of the Secretary General of MINRESI.
The sixth and final session of the Committee Steering the Co-creation project on innovative forest resource management, that combines ecological methods and indigenous knowledge (COMECA) was held on Friday, 14 June 2024 in MINRESI’s conference room. The meeting was chaired by the Secretary General of MINRESI, who represented the Minister, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE, unfortunately unavailable. This meeting was also attended by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), the Chargé de Mission of the Japanese Embassy, the Resident Representative of JICA in Cameroon and other members of the committee.
In her introductory remarks, Prof Rebecca Madeleine EBELLE ETAME thanked the Japanese side for all the multifaceted support that facilitated the smooth running of this project which began in July 2018. She reported that the expected results had largely been achieved, especially regarding the design of: a model to sustainably use wildlife; a system to produce and process Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) that would provide a source of income other than the bush meat trade; and finally a model to sustainably manage forest resources. This project has thus made it possible to propose alternatives to bush meat income through improving, producing, processing and marketing NTFPs. Thanks to this project, local communities in the Boumba Bek and Nki national parks (in the East region) have strengthened their capacities in producing and processing njansang kernels. In addition to these achievements directly linked to the project, the Japanese Cooperation has built a research station at Zoulabot, which will be handed over to the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD).
As a reminder, the COMECA project is a continuation of the FOSAS project (Establishing Sustainable Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management Strategies in the Rainforest of Cameroon and Surrounding Areas) which was carried out between 2011 and 2016. It was implemented by the KYOTO University and IRAD. This project was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development Program. It was executed by MINRESI and implemented by IRAD in collaboration with several national partners such as MINFOF and the universities of Dschang, Yaounde I and Douala.
The aim of this COMECA project was to create conditions facilitating a close collaboration between people living alongside national parks (BoumbaBek and Nki) and the government, thus permitting them to make a living from products of their environment. In this line, it was necessary to develop innovative mechanisms that will help local people manage forest resources, in order to support them develop activities that would enable them benefit from forest products other than bushmeat.
After operating for 6 years, the project has come to an end. It is now timetoconceive mechanisms thatwould facilitate the monitoring and effective implementation of results obtained. To this end, a platformto ensure that residual activities are carried out in the interest of local population is envisaged.
Lastly, it was on a satisfying note that the Secretary General of MINRESI closed the meeting, requesting Japanese and Chinese parties’ representatives to develop new projects, likely to contribute even more effectively to the well-being of people.
©CelTrad/MINRESI
