Cameroon rainforest diary
Forests campaigner Nicola Round has gone to the rainforests of south-east Cameroon to find out why forests are so important to people who live there, why illegal logging is such a problem and how we can all help stop it.
Here's Nicola's diary…
Day 1: Arriving in Cameroon
My name’s Nicola and I manage WWF UK’s campaigning work on forests. I’m interested in what people in the UK and rest of Europe can do to help tackle illegal and unsustainable logging in some of the world’s most heavily forested, and vulnerable, areas. So usually I’m at WWF UK HQ in Surrey, but for the next 11 days I’m in Cameroon, Central Africa, with photographer Brent Stirton. Read more...
Day 2: How does FSC certification make a difference?
Driving into Pallisco’s concession – the area which they’re licensed to log – we come across Maurice, a Baka pygmy, cutting down a huge tree with a small axe. The Baka pygmies have traditional rights to collect honey and other non-timber forest products, and Pallisco respects these rights. Read more...
Day 3: Deeper into the forest
Today we continue our journey deeper into the south eastern forest. On the road from Mindorou we pass hundreds of small villages. The houses are made from red clay from the ground and wood from the forest – making me realise just how important forest resources are to people here. Read more...
Day 4: White-knuckle roads
It’s a long, long drive today, from Yokadouma down to Kika, which is right down on the border with the Republic of the Congo. We’ve picked up an extra passenger, Alphonse, who works for WWF here. Read more...
Day 5: The beauty of the forest
We spend most of the day driving from Kika to Mambele, and back again, through Lobeke national park, a protected forest area right down in the south-east corner of Cameroon. Along the way we see some really beautiful forest and some fascinating glimpses of Baka life. Read more...
Day 6: Working towards FSC
We spend the day with the Italian logging company Alpicam, who are working towards FSC certification. Their biggest challenge is raising the standard of working conditions. It’s expensive, but director Francois hopes it will be a worthwhile investment, as FSC certification should mean a better price for their timber, as well as a better deal for the people and wildlife in and around the concession area. Read more...
Day 7: Life-changing projects; inspirational people
We arrive early at an area of forest where Alpicam is harvesting, so that Brent will hopefully get a chance to photograph a tree being felled. It’s less windy in the morning so it’s safer. We’re in luck – loggers are clearing a path to an Ayous tree they will cut this morning. Read more...
Day 8: Tackling the poachers
We travel from Mambele to Yokadouma and meet up with our driver George again. He’s been having mechanical problems with the pickup truck, but has thankfully managed to get it fixed. That’s a huge relief – I’m particularly keen not to miss my flight home (I’m getting married a few days after I get back!). Read more...
Day 9: Anti-corruption, and a very dirty car!
We make the final stretch back to Yaoundé today, a five-hour drive from Bertoua. There are several checkpoints along the way, which we’ve become used to stopping at during our trip. Read more...
Day 10: The end of a fascinating journey
Today is my last day in Cameroon, and I spend it at Mefou National Park. About 25km outside Yaoundé, Mefou was set up to care for rescued primates and is managed by the Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund with support from Bristol Zoo. Read more...
Our own Nicola Round spent ten days meeting local WWF field workers in Cameroon
This project is funded by the European Union
The contents of this webpage are the sole responsibility of WWF-UK and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union
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