The organization Forest And Agroforestry Promoters (FAP) NGO Cameroon was created in May 2001 by indigenes of the North West Region who have interest in the sustainable management of natural and wetland resources. The organization is registered with the government of Cameroon with reference number:
137/E31/067/SCAB
FAP’s mission is to promote the sustainable management of the natural and wetland resources in the Western highlands of Cameroon. Capacity-building (especially for communities) in the domains of tree nurseries, tree planting, forest enrichment, beekeeping, market gardening, sustainable agriculture and livestock production;
2. Identification and conservation of ecotourism sites and the sustainable management of wetlands resources;
3. Facilitation of dialogue processes between the multiple users of wetland and other natural resources;
4. Establishment of tree nurseries for forestation, reforestation and forest enrichment activities;
5. Environmental Impact Assessment;
6. Advocacy for women’s rights and participation in natural resources management processes;
7. Communicate market channel to target communities. Specific problem addressed by FAP in her activities
- Low family incomes
- Poor farming practices
- Uncontrolled exploitation of forest/wetland resources
- Low capacity of community members to generate income from their resources. (Poor management capacities)
- Poor leadership within groups and communities.
- Conflict over the use of wetland and other natural resources.
- Fast depletion of natural resources due to unsustainable exploitation by rural communities. Approach to these problems
In order to address these problems, FAP uses gender-sensitive participatory approaches to build the capacities and empower poor community members technically. With this approach, FAP expects to achieve a more equitable access to and control over natural resources within the community and to reduce poverty and unemployment. FAP focuses on the rural population of the North West Region which constitutes 80% of the total population of the region. The reason for focusing on the rural population is because they depend on natural resources for most of their income generating activities (crop production, livestock rearing including beekeeping, exploitation of timber and non timber forest products). Because of their poor organization and poor management capacities, these resources are depleting thereby rendering them even poorer. FAP’s major accomplishments since creation in 2001. Trained 60 men and women on tree nursery establishment and management in Ngoketunjia and Mezam Division of the North West Region. Raised and supplied to communities 40.000 assorted tree seedlings which were planted in watershed, plantations, and community forests in Mezam and Bui Divisions of the North West Region. Trained the Muffuo II, Sabga and Ber Communities of the North West on watershed protection, tree planting and management of planted areas. Trained 145 craftsmen and some forest dependent users in Ngoketunjia and Mezam Divisions on modern beekeeping and supplied 98 Modern Bee hives to them. Supervised the construction of 220 modern bee hives using local materials in Ngoketunjia and Mezam Divisions. Trained 78 farmers on Agroforestry and improved farming practices in different communities of the North West Region. Executed fire fighting, patrolling and the replacement of 1000 eucalyptus trees with prunus Africana in the Upper Shinga Community Forest. (Part of Kilum Mountain forest in Bui Division of the North West Region). Assisted Wetland users in the Upper Noun Area in the organization of a dialogue platform for conflict resolution especially during transhumance. Surveyed and identified ecotourism attractions in Tubah and Ndop. Organized and reported the world wetland day celebration in the Upper Noun Valley area in 2005, 2007. Trained farmers and grazers in Ngoketunjia Division conflict identification, resolution and management supported by SNV and MBOSCUDA. Identified and prioritize Non wood forest products in Ngoketunjia Division for enterprise development under the support of FAO. Executing Jatropha domestication and local uses of Jatropha oil in collaboration with GREENERY KUMBO supported by GEF-Small grant(UNDP-GEF)
Representative of PLANOPAC during the divisional best farm competition in Ngoketunjia
Facilitated the identification of some rice farming groups’ problems from production to marketing in Ngoketunjia Division. Facilitated workshops on Planning, monitoring and evaluation, Resources mobilization and drawing up of Action plan for 2012 with Water dialogue Platform in Ndu, Kumbo and Bafut Councils in the North west region in collaboration with SNV Highlands. Represent Cameroon in Indonesia on Human Right Workshop for ten days
FAP was one of the two executing organizations of a land security and capacity building project for wetland users in the Upper Noun Valley area of the North West Region. This project was funded by UNDP through the APREN initiative. Ongoing projects
• Promoting System of Rice intensification in Ndop Ngoketunjia Division.
• Establishment and management of ANALOG forestry Demonstration site in Bamessing Ndop supported by IAFN Costerica
• Tree planting for the protection of 5 water catchment areas in Bamessing and Bamali Villages in Ndop supported by New England Biolabs USA
• Neem tree and market gardening for soci-economic needs and climate change mitigation in Ngoketunjia Division supported by GEF SGP UNDP Cameroon
FAP works with traditional leaders to change some traditional believes and practices that hinder development activities in the communities, e.g. women do not own land and do not have right to property. Mourning for the death person for weeks and months even during the farming season where farmers have to respect farming calendar.
