Save the last populations of the Cross River gorilla and the Nigerian-Cameroon chimpanzee by financially supporting the populations living around the Tofala Hills sanctuary

The tropical South-West region of Cameroon is home to a unique diversity of species of birds, amphibians, reptiles and butterflies. At Tofala Hills we can find several endangered species, of which one is one of the world’s rarest primates: the Cross River gorilla. The same is true for a sub-species of chimpanzee, the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee.

What is left of the forests is under pressure from deforestation as a result of the extensive agricultural practices of the local populations. Hunting also provides them with a large portion of their proteins. Unfortunately, there are only sixty Cross River gorillas left in this area and, despite their low numbers, they remain a prime target for local hunters. The aim of this project is to explain to these hunters that their traditional activity is coming to an unavoidable end and they must find other, more sustainable ways of survival.

Olivier Behra met the extremely motivated local team from the NGO ERuDeF when he went to the site for the first time in 2010. This organisation was created and developed by Louis Nkembi, a researcher who is incredibly committed to conservation. The primary aim of ERuDeF has been to raise awareness within the local populations in order for them to change their behaviour. His teams fight tooth and nail so that these populations commit to sustainable agroforestry practices – even if the challenges remain too large given the size of the populations and their level of poverty.

The first meetings with the chief of the Bechati village and his “gorilla shoes” were difficult. But taking the time to listen and to offer to look together for economic alternatives for the local communities has paid off. No more than one year later, Olivier Behra was presented with a head covering denoting him as one of the village’s prominent figures, and he was even given the local name of ‘Nkemla’.

Several years later, the scientific methods and the administrative procedures that were undertaken by the ERuDeF NGO have allowed for the joint recognition by the administration and the local communities of a sanctuary containing 15.000 hectares of forest, finally offering a chance of survival to the Cameroonian Cross River gorilla.

In addition, 16 plant nurseries have been put in place in schools, more than 6000 students have been made aware of environmental issues via a program tailored specifically for their region, and 3500 trees have been planted in reforestation priority zones.

Several plant extracts have been identified in this area, one of which being the Mondia whitehi. This is a local spice with a similar scent to vanilla. It is essential to support these local communities in getting the value of these products recognised so that conserving these forests may be considered as much of a priority as conserving the environment in today’s 21^st-century modern society.