Voice of Nature (VoNat), on April 28, trained over 20 young people in amphibian monitoring, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative focused on these vital species within the Mount Cameroon landscape. The activity was held as part of Save The Frogs Day 2026 celebrations, highlighting the importance of amphibian conservation in Cameroon’s rich biodiversity zones.
The Training and Orientation Session took place at the VoNat Head Office in Upper Bokova, Buea, Cameroon, bringing together young conservation enthusiasts eager to gain practical field experience in wildlife monitoring and ecosystem protection.
From engaging introductions to hands-on learning, participants were introduced to amphibian monitoring techniques, including Visual Encounter Surveys, acoustic surveys, and proper ecological data collection methods. The session also included equipment demonstrations, field safety guidance, and team preparation for the upcoming surveys.
For many participants, the training was both inspiring and transformative. Brian, one of the trainees, described the experience as a rare opportunity to bridge theory and practice. “It was an amazing opportunity and session. I met people from diverse backgrounds, and we exchanged about the frogs and everything. Being from an environmental science background, basically in school we have just theory. So this is a great opportunity for me to get hands-on experience, going to the field and learn a little bit of new things. I learnt knowledge about surveying, recording of data and so on. It is a great opportunity and I’m happy to be here,” he said.
Beyond technical skills, the session emphasized the ecological importance of frogs as bioindicators, species whose presence and health reflect the condition of the environment. Participants learned how amphibians play a key role in maintaining ecosystem balance, while also being highly sensitive to environmental changes such as pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. This training enhaanced the capacity of the volunteerd for a week-long hands-on frotg monitoring expedition, May 5–8, 2026 in selected wetlands within the Mount Cameroon landscape.