This project is a community-led reforestation effort, designed to counter the effects of environmental degradation in the semi-arid region of the Extreme North of Cameroon.
Cameroon is bordered by Nigeria on the west, Chad on the northeast, the Central African Republic on the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo on the south. The Extreme North has a population of about 2 million people.
The region suffers from sparse rainfall and high median temperatures. Its characteristic vegetation is savanna scrub and grass. It is experiencing deforestation, erosion, soil infertility, and desertification.
Reforestation is the restocking of existing forests and woodlands which have been depleted. In addition to mitigating the degradation, reforestation can also improve the quality of life by soaking up pollution and dust from the air, rebuilding natural habitats and ecosystems, and mitigating the effects of global warming.
The project has the ultimate goal of improving environmental conditions and community practices. It will combine the leadership and organizational skills of community leaders from groups such as schools, churches and mosques with the technical knowledge to start and maintain local tree nurseries.
The project will support the efforts of the communities of the region by assisting local leaders in taking charge of remediation of their local environmental problems.
The project will also support the local economy by providing financial compensation to local tree nurseries for the trees planted.
Participating communities will benefit by the increased availability of trees in the marketplace for their local use.
Technical expertise and environmental education will be provided to the communities and schools, which will have a long-lasting effect on the region.
The project is being run by Peace Corps Volunteer M. Cleaver.
This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer M. Cleaver of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by this PCV and/or other projects by PCVs in Cameroon.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.