Forest Protection:

K’bo Council adopts REDD+ Project
By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda
Councilors of Kumbo Council sitting in an extra ordinary session on August 20, 2015 validated the draft project idea note and terms of reference for the REDD+ Kumbo Council pilot project aimed at reducing the poverty level from the current 48 percent in the municipality to below 10 percent through their effective participation in the management of the Council’s forest.
    Kumbo council was amongst ten lucky councils selected from the 360 councils in Cameroon who were requested to manifest the interest to participate in this project and submit a file expressing their ability to implement REDD+. It is worth noting that Kumbo Council was the first council to validate her own draft project idea note and terms of reference.
    From the remaining ten councils, six will again be selected based on the quality of the research project submitted to benefit from the REDD+ project where a detail feasibility study will be conducted.
    According to Ngang Eric, team leader of Positive Vision Cameroon, a consultancy firm that was selected to design the project, the proposed project seeks to propose alternative management of the forest by reducing deforestation and degradation of forest while ensuring that communities get the same or better benefits from adopting alternative management approaches.

    REDD+ is a product of the Copenhagen consultations from 2005 to 2008 where parties agreed that to mitigate climate change, incentives must be given to developing countries to enhance and protect carbon stocks (tress) in their forests.
Speaking at the sitting, the Mayor of Kumbo Council, Njong Donatus Fonyuy revealed that the council has “acquired 1718.1 ha of land at Kov Ndzeen” for the project and have also signed a memorandum of understanding with the community of Ndzeen.
    He appreciated the efforts Positive Vision, PNDP, sectoral ministries both at national and regional level, the Bui administration and the councilors of Kumbo Council and staff for their contribution in the project so far.
    On his part the Representative of the NW Regional coordinator of PNDP Pascal S congratulated kumbo council for their hard work which resulted to the validation of the draft project idea note and terms of reference. He exceptionally thanked the Mayor Njong Donatus for his charisma and duty consciousness.
    The extra ordinary session extended to sector ministries saw the presence of the SDO for Bui, Regional Delegates of Forestry and Wildlife and Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, the Regional Coordinator of PNDP amongst others.