As we reflect on 2024 and preview into 2025, I am filled with hope and gratitude for the inspiring and sacrificial work of our staff, volunteers and interns, and the unwavering supports of our donors (individuals, foundations and organizations), collaborators and members. Your priceless sacrifices and high sense of assiduity contributed significantly in deepening our organization’s commitment and strive to building a greener server and more sustainable planet for wildlife and humanity to thrive. I am honoured to share what the sacrifice of your finances, time and other tangible and intangible resources help ed us to accomplish as far as species conservation, climate action and landscape restorations are concerned in this 2024 Annual Report.
In 2024, we continued to leverage our skills, experience and limited resources to contribute solutions to the triple planetary crises of species loss, climate change and environmental pollution in Cameroon. Our initiative for the conservation of the world’s largest frog, the Goliath frog and other endangered amphibians in Cameroon reached new heights, educating close to 100 more community kids and engaging them to sensitize their parents against the depletion of this emblematic species. We also extended our Species Conservation Programme to the newly created Mount Muanenguba Herpeto-ornithological Sanctuary, reaching out to over 2000 community members and 40 local & indigenous leaders in all the conservation clusters of the protected area with sensitization messages about the new status of Mount Muanengouba.
We mentored and grew the impact of Eco-Warriors (a network of Kids for Environmental Protection in the Mount Cameroon Area, which we created in 2023); educating over 3000 community members about the endangered species of Mount Cameroon, growing and donating threatened tree species to locals for domestication and taking scores of local farmers and students through experiential sessions on regenerative agriculture practices.
In our climate action programme, we mentored and engaged over 250 community kids and youths in Buea and Douala of the South West and Littoral regions of Cameroon in contributing solutions to climate impacts in their communities. The youngsters in both regions planted over 300 trees in public spaces, sensitized thousands to adapt their lives and livelihoods to climate impacts, and donated trash cans and plastic cages for sustainable waste management.
Our landscape restoration team made significant strides in restoring degraded areas in the town of Buea through the planting and protecting of trees and establishing a-1000-capacity nursery for continuous restoration actions. Besides these, our staff and volunteers had the opportunity to attend different national and international workshops to build their capacity for increased productivity and efficiency. Our volunteering Youth Mentorship programme impacted the lives of hundreds of young people in and out of Cameroon. Meanwhile, our non-profit environmental news organ remained a reference for environmental information to thousands in Cameroon and beyond. These accomplishments were made possible thanks to the confidence, collaboration, assiduity and generosity of our donors, staff, funders, and community/local institutions and leaders.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to our vision for a planet where every individual intentionally treats nature with love and respect, understanding that their existence and that of generations is dependent on the environment.. We will continue to strengthen our capacity, create stronger partnerships and mobilize support to research, educate, sensitize, mentor and engage young people and their communities in building a greener, safer and more sustainable planet for wildlife and humanity to thrive.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Ndimuh B. Shancho
Executive Director,
Voice of Nature (VoNat)