DENG DENG-BELABO GORILLA CORRIDOR
SAFEGUARDING A SPECIES THROUGH THE POWER OF COMMUNITY-MANAGED FORESTS
In 2022, the Cameroonian government granted local communities management rights over the Akwandok, Kebo, and Kepol Community Forests, which border the Deng Deng National Park and Belabo Council Forests. The newly-protected 9,709 hectares of forest create a critical corridor linking up these two large protected areas, securing a larger habitat for the critically endangered Western Lowland Gorilla to move freely among the forest areas.
The Deng Deng-Belabo Gorilla Corridor is part of the Congo Basin forest, a conservation hotspot and immense carbon store. Local people rely on this lush rainforest for food and medicine, and derive spiritual and cultural value from it. Unfortunately, these forests are at risk of disappearing due to illegal logging and hunting, as well as conversion to agricultural crops like cocoa and oil palm.
FCF is working with the communities and their local partner, ERuDeF, to protect these forests and safeguard them for both humans and wildlife.
Grantee Team
This area is owned by the Cameroonian government, which has granted management rights to local communities. The communities were supported in this land tenure process by the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF), an award-winning Cameroonian NGO established in 1989.
ERuDeF conducted participatory mapping with the ten surrounding villages and is seeking funding through FCF to help the communities develop management plans for the forests. ERuDeF’s conservation work across Cameroon focuses on community engagement, benefit-sharing, and alternative livelihood development to ensure success of conservation projects.
Biodiversity and Conservation Values
The Deng Deng gorillas are the most northern subpopulation of Western Lowland Gorillas. Without this corridor connecting them to the southern subpopulations, they will become fragmented — the first step towards local extinction. Endangered Central Chimpanzee, White-Bellied Pangolin, and African Grey Parrot are all found in the Deng Deng Gorilla Corridor, as well as Mandrills, classified as vulnerable.
Threats
Deforestation and habitat loss due to cocoa and palm oil expansion
Illegal logging
Unregulated poaching and hunting (including use of indiscriminate snares)
Project Activities
SUPPORT Community forest management
ERuDeF, the Grantee, will use FCF funding to physically demarcate the boundaries of these new protected areas, train community rangers on using the SMART system to use to monitor biodiversity and track threats over time, and install a system of camera traps to survey wildlife.
Conservation education
Community support for conservation of the corridor is high, but to maintain this level of enthusiasm takes an investment in education about the benefits that local people gain from the forest, the magic of its flora and fauna, and the impact that humans have on the forest. FCF funds will be used to hire an environmental education officer to present at local schools; create posters, billboards, and videos; and create a scholarship fund for local schools.
SECURING FOREST-FRIENDLY LIVELIHOODS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE
In order to reduce poaching and logging inside the forest corridor, communities must be able to earn a decent livelihood from other activities. ERuDeF will conduct baseline livelihood surveys across all of the villages to identify forest-friendly income generation activities like ecotourism which could be run by local people. Working with the communities to develop and monitor sustainable use of forest resources like bushmeat and other non-timber forest products is another important element of ERuDeF’s work to ensure the long-term health of the forest.
INVOLVING COMMUNITIES IN GOVERNANCE ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE
The Deng Deng-Belabo Gorilla Corridor forms part of a globally-important biome, linking to Dja World Heritage Biosphere to the south. ERuDeF will work to involve communities in landscape-level governance systems and ensure their input in corridor management plans, potentially helping them to access further fundings.
Quick Stats
Area: 9,709 hectares
Threatened Wildlife: Western Lowland Gorilla, Central Chimpanzee, African Grey Parrot, White-bellied Pangolin
Grantee: ERuDeF
Remaining budget to fund: US$ 231,203
Funding status: Partially funded by Royal Van Wijhe Verf for 3-years
Commodities: Cocoa, Palm Oil, Timber