FAP Intensifies Water catchment Protection in Bamenda Highlands

The North West Region is made up of undulating hills which host many spring sources some of the spring sources has been constructed and water connected to communities within the landscape.

The spring sources or water catchment areas keep on degrading due to exposure to unsustainable exploitation by villagers for livelihood and the search of farmlands for the cultivation of food crops as one of the option to supplement already low incomes. The exposure of these protected areas has left most of the spring sources contaminated with chemicals and other stuffs leading to the dry up, this has been some of the reason why water borne deseases especially cholera which has hited some parts of Cameroon in the past two years and again this year in the Northen part of Cameroon.

Some Civil societies and NGOs has taken the challenge to educate communities and assist them in the protection of these spring sources.

Forest and Agroforestry Promoters (FAP NGO Cameroon) is a Ndop based NGO promoting the conservation of watercatchment areas in Ndop and the Bamenda Highlands Region of Cameroon, through the financial support from New England Biolabs foundation, the communities were able to plant 10,000 threatened and indigenous tree species in 4 water catchment protected areas in 2 villages (Bamessing and Bamali) in Ndop Ngoketunjia Division of the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon

The main objective of this project is to protect and conserve 50 hectares of watershed/watercathment. The aim of this project is biodiversity conservation in the Bamenda Highlands Region in Cameroon through the planting of 10,000 threatened and indigenous tree species in 5 water catchment protected

areas. It is expected that 10 hectares of land will be planted within the project and about 50 hectares of land will be conserve and protected as a result of this project.

The long term benefits of the project are climate change mitigation, increase in vegetation cover and habitats for wildlife, reduce encroachment by farmers into water catchment areas, provision of portable water to communities and the creation of seed banks for indigenous and threatened species.

The project has as co funders International Analog Forestry Network on the establishment of Analog Demonstration site in Bamessing Ndop.

The coordinator FAP Mr Jaff Francis told the news paper that he is satisfied with participation of the different communities in tree planting, fencing and fire tracing the planted areas and he will not relent his effort in supporting such initiatives if the communities show interest in contributing physically in planting of trees, fencing and fire tracing.

The secatary General of Bamessing Development Union equally thanked FAP for the gesture and pleaded for more support in tree seedlings and training on bee keeping.

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