What We Do
Conserving Nature. Empowering People.
We are pioneers in integrated conservation, dedicated to protecting Cameroon’s most threatened ecosystems and species while building sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.
Safeguarding Cameroon's Priceless Biodiversity
Our work to protect the unique and threatened natural heritage of Cameroon forms the core of our mission. We implement science-driven programs designed to ensure the survival of iconic species and the health of their habitats.
ERuDeF’s comprehensive approach is rooted in the conviction that effective, long-term conservation is inseparable from sustainable human development. As a leading Cameroonian organization, we utilize a holistic strategy that combines rigorous scientific research with deep, on-the-ground community engagement. Our work is structured around a vital dual mandate: to restore and safeguard critical ecosystems and biodiversity, and to promote the economic resilience and food security of the rural populations who are the environment’s primary stewards.
We translate global conservation goals into local action across diverse landscapes, from the Lebialem Highlands to the Adamawa Plateau.
Protected area and corridor management
This involves the creation of new Protected Areas (PAs) and the establishment of community forests which function as crucial genetic corridors to link fragmented habitats. Our teams develop and implement comprehensive Management Plans tailored for the conservation of key threatened species, including the critically endangered Cross River Gorilla, the endangered Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee, Drills, Goliath frogs, pangolins, wild cats, and elephants. These efforts ensure habitat connectivity and the long-term viability of species populations.
Research and bio-monitoring
Our work is evidence-based and informed by rigorous science. We conduct essential fieldwork to systematically collect data on flora and fauna species alongside anthropogenic factors (human impacts). This data is critical for understanding ecosystem health, tracking population trends, measuring the effectiveness of conservation interventions, and translating scientific findings into sound environmental policy and effective management plans.
Restoration of degraded ecosystem
This program focuses on actively healing and rejuvenating natural environments that have been damaged by past unsustainable practices. The work involves large-scale reforestation and afforestation efforts, prioritizing the planting of native, environmental-friendly, and valuable agroforestry and economic trees. A critical component is the restoration of water catchment areas, stabilizing soil, improving water quality, and regulating local microclimates. By strategically re-establishing forest cover and promoting sustainable land use, we ensure the recovery of vital ecosystem functions, enhancing biodiversity and providing essential resources for local communities.
Community forestry
Community forestry is a cornerstone of our integrated conservation model, empowering local populations to become the primary stewards of their natural resources. This initiative focuses on the creation and sustainable management of forests by the communities themselves. The principal goal is to establish community-managed forests that serve as genetic corridors, effectively linking larger protected areas and ensuring the safe dispersal and exchange of wildlife populations across the landscape. By vesting ownership and responsibility in local hands, this program provides direct social and economic benefits, creating a long-term incentive for people to protect the forest ecosystem against illegal encroachment and degradation.
Economic development programme
This program aims to reduce pressure on forest resources by providing communities with alternative, high-value, forest-friendly income-generating options. Activities such as bee-keeping, sustainable processing of local crops (e.g., cassava), and commercializing Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) create direct economic incentives for the preservation of a healthy, standing forest.
Food security and economic resilience programme
We promote resilient and sustainable agricultural practices to counter the threats of land degradation and food insecurity. This involves the widespread adoption of techniques like agrobiodiversity (cultivating diverse crops), agroecology, organic farming, and forest gardening. These methods enhance soil health, reduce reliance on monocultures, and ensure stable, diversified food supplies and incomes for rural small-scale farmers.
Access Benefit Sharing initiative
This initiative focuses on the valorization of genetic resources such as the medicinal plant Mondia whitei and Echinops found in the region. The core principle of ABS is ensuring that local communities, whose traditional knowledge is often tied to these resources, receive a fair and equitable share of the benefits derived from their commercial or scientific use.
Conservation finance
To ensure the long-term financial viability of local initiatives, we facilitate the creation of cooperatives and micro-credit institutions. These structures provide local people, especially women, with access to capital, training, and financial support, enabling them to scale up their sustainable livelihood projects and contribute to the local management costs of protected areas.
Education for sustainable development
This involves comprehensive environmental education and outreach programmes targeting local communities, schools, and decision-makers. The goal is to raise awareness about the value of biodiversity and foster a culture of stewardship, ensuring that the next generation is equipped with the knowledge and conviction necessary to participate actively in and sustain conservation efforts.
Support vital projects and help protect nature for generations to come.
Support conservation year-round with an amount that fits your budget. Every gift fuels local projects and measurable impact, helping protect wildlife and habitats for future generations.