The Environment and Rural Development Foundation have signed a commitment agreement with chiefs of Tiko-Limbe 3 island communities of the South West coast, Cameroon to commence the restoration and conservation of their mangroves. This is within the framework of ERuDeF’s 25 years commitment to supporting the restoration and conservation of the islands of the Southwest coast of Cameroon.
The commitment agreement was signed on August 11, 2022, at the premises of the Tiko council in the presence of the regional delegate of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development for the Southwest Region, the representative of the Mayor of Tiko, the Divisional Delegate of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development for Fako, chiefs of Tiko-Limbe 3 island communities and ERuDeF officials.
The chiefs of these island communities pledged their full support and promised to mobilise their communities to accompany ERuDeF in its 25 years-long journey. With funding from Seacology, the pilot phase of this initiative shall run for one year and will be implemented in the villages of Kangue and Bwinga located in Tiko and Limbe 3.
The project will deliver the following benefits to these communities: a 5000 ha forest reserve will be created and managed to preserve the unique natural beauty and ecological goods and services of the mangroves for future generations, 40 homes in Kangue and Bwinga will be supplied with electricity generated from solar systems, 3 smoked oven and 3 cold stores will also be installed in these villages to support artisanal fishermen and communities rangers and local government officials will as well gain knowledge on existing policies and legal framework and enforce the mangrove and marine legislation.
Mary Ndinge Lyonga is a marketing assistant at Eagle Wings and Spice Located at Mutengene, Tiko Road.
She was once a Volunteer at the Tiko Council Community Radio for a period of 3 months under the Leadership of Mme Sarah Nkongho as the Station Manager. She is a graduate from the department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Faculty of Social and Management Science, University of Buea.