The Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, BMWS, Kupe Muanenguba, South West Region, has set up a Collaborative Management Platform in their cluster villages, empowering members on conservation practices.
This was the outcome of a three-day meeting grouping the Ebamut Cluster, Banyue Cluster and Nguti Cluster villages at the Bangem Council Hall, July 9 to 11, 2024.
Addressing participants at the workshop, the Conservator of the sanctuary, Yves Nathan Mekembom congratulated the newly elected members of the platform, especially cluster facilitators. “Let’s join energy to achieve all what we have decided together, which is the sustainability of resources and the conservation of Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary”. He pleaded.
Mekembom announced that they will be offering scholarships to 30 students for the 2024/2025 academic year for communities within the sanctuary. He encouraged students to apply in order to benefit from the scheme.
The various presentations focused on Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, collaborative management approach and concept.
Also, participants were trained on basic reporting, conservation activities in the sanctuary, sustainable livelihoods. The meeting ended with an evaluation of activities from 2023 to June, 2024 and a planning agenda was set up from July to December 2024. Some of the activities include; park management, boundary opening, community based surveillance, livelihood activities like piggery, creation of nursery, water project, amongst others.
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Speaking at the end of the meeting, the Chief of Technical Services for Town Planning and Development, Ajang Ngide Cornelius, representing of the Mayor of Bangem Council, Ekungwe Kang Christopher, appreciated the Bayang Mbo team for impacting villagers with alternative sources of livelihoods.
Chief Ekenjeh Theodore of Ndiamin Village, Ebamut Cluster said he gained new knowledge on the conservation and the protection of the sanctuary. He said they have learned communication techniques to effectively inform their communities to drop poaching and the illegal felling of trees in the sanctuary.
The Cluster Facilitator of Ebamut Cluster, Ndah Bertrand Ekanjume promised to do all in his capacity to protect animals and trees in the sanctuary for posterity. He mentioned pangolin and the Romania ebamutences tree that is found only at Ebamut cluster.
Present at the meeting was the Community Development Officer of BMWS, Vitalis Akime Esoh, Assam Emmanuel, Collaborative Management Unit Head, BMWS, Mor Achankap Bakia, WWF Landscape Advisor, Ojong Sylvester, Chief of Post, Forestry, Bangem amongst others.
By Olive Ejang
