Our community intervention programs are divided into two: Curative and preventive interventions.
1- THE CURATIVE INTERVENTION
The curative intervention looks at deforestation, landscaping, watershed management, overfishing, desertification, land and water pollution, by working with affected communities to get into the root cause of the problem (s), identify the solution(s) and mobilize resources to solve the problem (s).
Our daily activities here include:
- ORGANIZING PLASTIC WASTE CLEANUP EVENTS
At E2F with a team of more than 30 volunteers, we organize plastic waste cleanup events on regular bases in communities, landfills, rivers, streams, beaches, highly polluted with plastics waste. The plastics waste (PET, HDPE, LDPE) are picked up, weighed, registered and collected.
- REUSING OF PLASTIC WASTE BOTTLES TO CONSTRUCT ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
At E2F we reuse the collected plastic waste bottles to construct eco-friendly products which include: Eco-benches, eco-chairs, eco-tables, bulb coverings and paving tiles (eco-bricks).
- REPLANTING OF MANGROVES PLANTS
At E2F we do mangroves reforestation activities. This is done by direct replanting of saplings and propagules in the degraded mangroves forest sites. The mangroves species mostly replanted are Avecinia spp and Rhizophora spp.
- MANUAL REMOVAL OF INVASIVE SALVINIA PLANT FROM LAKE OSSA
The invasive Salvinia plant is currently the most dangerous threat in the lake Ossa Cameroon. The invasive Salvinia plant has spread more aggressively in the lake especially in the hot-spot of African Manatees the most charismatic species in lake. Presently the Salvinia plant has already occupied more than 20% of the total surface area of the lake. At E2F we organize on a regular bases a participatory manual removal of Salvinia plant using hand nets, baskets, nets through the engagement of the local populations (fishermen).
- TRAININGS AND EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOPS WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ON ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS
At E2F we introduce and/or strengthen existing low-cost, easily implementable, low-environmental-impact livelihood activities, supplying communities with either an alternative source of meat protein or an alternative form of income generation, thus decreasing people’s dependency on wild meat , eliminate primary reliance on natural ressources and reducing pressures on our blue nature reserves and parks.
- RUNING ECOTOXICOLOGY STUDY/RESEARCH ON THE WATERS QUALITY
The waters (lakes, rivers, streams and oceans) in Cameroon are threatened by alarming rate of eutrophication, sedimentation and pollution. The pollution originates oaggegated plastics waste, organic waste, effluents and other toxic industrial waste which are dumped in the waters without treatment. At E2F we study and evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological parameters of the waters.
- ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
At E2F we do environmental education in schools and communities among students, pupils, teachers, fishermen, farmers, traditional leaders, and others.
At the level of local communities we educate and empower the local population on how to use the Community-based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) technique to restore and conserve our mangroves
2- THE PREVENTIVE INTERVENTION
The preventive intervention focuses on the use of indigenous seeds, sustainable agriculture (organic farming) promotion of Agro-forestry and development of ecotourism. These agricultural and ecotourism methods are natural, retaining the plant nutrients, making the soil hard, preventing erosion, encouraging the growth of plants and conserves biodiversity rich nature. It at the same time contributes to the cycling of water and thus makes the ecosystem of the place much more alive. The new ecosystem full of live will prevent environmental degradation of any sort.
Our daily activities here include:
PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AGROFORESTRY
At E2F we promote and develop agroforestry in local communities through: Organising trainings on trees nurseries, Construction of local plant nurseries, Monitoring of the native plants in the nurseries, Planting of the native plants in deforested areas, Monitoring and evaluation of the newly planted native plants.
PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM
Ecotourism is defined internationally as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improves the wellbeing of the local people”.
At E2F we promote and develop ecotourism in the nature parks and reserves in Cameroon. This is aim to combine wildlife (nature) conservation and communities wellbeing in and around these nature parks and reserves.
Our main activities to promote ecotourism in these nature parks and reserves include: Touristic trips, Camping, Cultural dances, Trainings on agroforestry, Trainings on organic agriculture, Trainings on income generation activities and Trainings on craft production.
