cameroon fourth national report - Impact monitoring of Forest ...

BOX 7: The Limbe Botanic and Zoological Garden (LBG)
Established in 1892, this “Biodiversity Hot Spot” near Mount Cameroon serves as Cameroon’s
Conservation, Education and Research Centre in biodiversity. In a widened vision in 2006, it now
promotes biodiversity education, information, research and extensive services. Presently, LBG
focuses and responds to national biodiversity concerns and has been instrumental in the
implementation of the CBD objectives in Cameroon. Their conference hall and a library are facilities
where national biodiversity issues are examined. Actions of the NBSAP can be identified in the
Garden’s mission through its programs on plant and animal surveys, horticulture, landscaping,
conservation technology, development and extension services. Case studies on technology
conservation are seen through their Snail Farming Demonstration, Bee Farming and the Gene bank
on Gnetum spp from 36 provenances within five provinces in Cameroon.
The Garden’s extension services on Prunus africanum also demonstrates their special
emphasis on the sustainable management even at the level of species particularly those threatened
with extinction. LBG’s new dimension envisages its expansion as a modern biodiversity education and
research centre capable of handling and intervening on biodiversity issues in Cameroon while
benefiting from its traditional synergies and cooperation with similar institutions world over. LBG’s
GIS/Mapping and Spatial Analysis Database has rendered services like providing information for landuse
coverage and the ‘ufa’ limitation in the nation’s logging zones, (Mbome et al 2005).
2.5.4 MAIN OBSTACLES IN IMPLEMENTING THE CBD
The following are among the main obstacles in implementing the CBD in Cameroon.
Insufficient financial allocations
Although CBD implementation is expected to be country driven, Government does not
allocate sufficient finances for implementing the CBD. This greatly affects the level of
response and attention required by the CBD organs.
Operational Unit for Information at local level
Due to several factors amongst which figure the lack of capacity, the young nature of
the ministry, the national biodiversity focal point institution has experienced difficulties
within the reporting period to coordinate and monitor other biodiversity stake-holders
especially for the regular flow of information nation wide.
Old Traditional Methods
In many rural areas, old traditions and taboos in biodiversity-related activities have
slowed down even impeded CBD implementation e.g. slash and burn farming method,
shifting cultivation, farming along contours, etc.
Insufficient capacities
There is gross shortage of appropriate personnel in specialized domains like
taxonomy, ecology, entomology, sylviculture, oceanography, molecular biology, malacology,
etc. For the available fields, the working conditions are not encouraging. Due to economic
crisis in the country and related adaptation measures, recruitment into the public sector was
halted, leading to the non replacement of retiring staff. Most infrastructures deteriorated. Lack
of funding impeded the realizations of the implementation of biodiversity and related
activities (NBSAP). There was also insufficient public sensitization on biodiversity. For
example in the National Herbarium, IRAD and some key institutions many retired staff was
not replaced. For two years now, recruitment into the public service has resumed.
Biodiversity Inventory
Biodiversity inventory is crucial for baseline data establishment for its status and
trends monitoring. The NBSAP of Cameroon recommended that inventory should be done on
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