print version

Objective

Our main objective is to develop and promote ecotourism as an instrument for biodiversity conservation in the Mount Cameroon Region and the improvement of the livelihood of the local population. Through the promotion of biodiversity conservation in the Region and through the integration of tourism with nature conservation (Ecotourism), we can contribute effectively to the improvement of living standards of the local communities.

Our  Motto is: Income for village communities and conservation of biodiversity through ecotourism

Concept of Ecotourism in the Mount Cameroon Region

Ecotourism is often mixed up and compared with nature tourism in general. But, in fact, the concept of ecotourism contains certain principles, which reach further than nature tourism as far as planning, implementation and intended impacts are concerned.

Sustainable ecotourism is based on three principles:

1.                              Environmental and socio-cultural compatibility

• Respecting and protecting the environment and the culture of the host communities as well as   meeting the tourist’s needs

2.                             Creation of financial/economic benefits

• Raising benefits for local communities and ensuring reinvestment in infrastructure and wildlife management, contribute to poverty alleviation by offering additional income to the population

3.                             Creation of environmental and cultural awareness

•   Exchanging cultural experiences and promoting biodiversity conservation.

From its very beginning, the development of ecotourism in the Mount Cameroon region was guided by these principles, which determine the project’s approach.

In the year 1998, all relevant stakeholders were identified and brought together to discuss and contribute to the development of ecotourism: villages around the mountain, local groups, hunters, climber’s association, hotel managers, travel agencies, Provincial Government Services (Provincial Delegation of Tourism and Provincial Delegation of Environment and Forestry), Fako Tourism Board and the Councils of Buea, Limbe, Mbonge and Idenau.

A special focus was put on hunters. Their knowledge and skills coupled with the nature of their activities on the mountain - most often a threat to conservation - distinguished hunters as a priority stakeholder group:

Their involvement in ecotourism activities is intended to reduce the pressure on the wildlife population and to raise awareness of the value of an intact ecosystem.  A dead elephant or chimpanzee will give income to only a few hunters. A living elephant or chimpanzee could be the target for hundreds of tourists, paying guides and porters, providing income for the villages around the mountain and helps to maintain the small population of forest elephants and other endangered species in the Mount Cameroon region.  

As an outcome of the workshops held in 1998 and in 1999, a multi-stakeholder-structure was created in order to manage the ecotourism activities efficiently: the Mount Cameroon Ecotourism Organisation (Mount CEO), now Mount Cameroon Inter-Communal Ecotourism Board.

The objectives of the organisation as reflected in the articles of association are to improve on the livelihood of the local population and to support the biodiversity conservation through the promotion of ecotourism.

The structure operates on two different levels. On the regional level, the Steering Committee is expected to determine the policy. On the local level, the Village Ecotourism Committees are coordinating their own ecotourism activities. In order to manage the day-to-day activities, an ecotourism office was set up.

Part of the whole concept is a benefit sharing system: While ecotourism rates for guides and porters are paid directly to the beneficiaries, an additional “tourist fee”  (contribution to the stakeholder fund) is collected by the organisation and shared at the end of each tourism season amongst the stakeholders.

Not only hunters serving as guides and porters are benefiting from ecotourism activities. A certain percentage of the income from ecotourism goes into the village development funds.

In all, the local population will benefit in three different ways:

• Through the village development fund

• Through the hunters working as guides and porters

• Through side activities related to ecotourism, based on self-initiative of the village communities like performances, traditional cooking, production and selling of handicraft, etc.

Other sources of income for the organisation consist of the sale of information material/articles and the hiring of camping equipment.

Presently, Mount CEO receives financial and technical support from DED (German Development Service) and the GTZ (Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit). Besides the necessary efforts to build and strengthen the capacities of its members, the organisation faces the great challenge to become financially sustainable within the next years.