Untold impact of Anglophone Crisis on conservation efforts
By Nchendzengang Tatah
For eight years now, life is yet to return to normal in the English speaking regions of Cameroon. Due to raging armed conflict claiming lives and destroying properties.
Flora and fauna have also been disturbed and destroyed. These effects have gone almost unnoticed. Disaster management scholar, researcher and educator at Bournemouth University, Henry Ngenyam Bang says results of recent research show that the consequences of the armed conflict on environment is “acute complex emergency.”
In the article, “The environment is the silent casualty in the Cameroon Anglophone crisis”, Ngenyam highlighted the footprints which have been left and continue to be printed by the rage. The conservation activities in these areas have halted, which host some of the biodiversity hotspots of Cameroon.
Tourist visit has been significantly affected, while environmental projects have stalled and environment experts taken away for safety. Henry Ngenyam catalogued that “violence forced environmentalists and NGOS operating in the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Lebialem to flee.”
The Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the critically endangered Cross River gorillas and other endangered wildlife like the African chimpanzee and elephant. He also stated that, “these gorillas are also under increased threat from militias such as the “Red Dragons” which have set up camps within the sanctuary.”
Moreso, the habitation by these armed groups following evacuation of foresters, has given room for more poaching. Deforestation is also on a rise; internally displaced persons seek refuge, and build new homes in these conservation areas.
Louis Nkembi, PhD adds that securing funds for conservation organistions like his is harder today. From the fact that these areas remain inaccessible to ready donors and funders to evaluate before grants.
The city centres bear the marks too. Garbage disposal crisis has worsen. “Separatists have threatened to burn the garbage collection company, HYSACAM in Bamenda and Buea, capitals of the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions,” Henry Ngenyam findings stated.
All these and many more instances dash efforts of conservation into the bin. Thereby making issues of environment conservation alarming in the face of the ongoing war.
