Some 50 community kids and youths, taking part in the Voice of Nature (VoNat)’s Young Amphibians Conservation Stewards Programme, have educated over 1000 children, youths, men and women from communities in the Mount Nlonako Area on the need to get engaged in the conservation of endangered amphibians in this area.
Habitat pollution and destruction, trapping and hunting, and other activities that further jeopardise the existence of endangered amphibians, especially the world’s largest frog, goliath frog, are some of the poor environmental practices the young amphibians stewards advocate strongly that their communities stop.
Youngsters made their voices heard during World Wildlife Day on May 20, 2022, which coincided with Cameroon’s National Day celebrations. They marched past the grandstand with posters of some endangered amphibians species they want protected. They also brandished drawings and presented poems, songs, articles and debates with unique conservation messages. This culminated in a special sensitization programme using pro-amphibians conservation poems, songs, articles and debates.
The traditional ruler of Mangamba, Chief Roland Essengue Mbonda, expressed satisfaction with the amphibians conservation sensitization campaign. “Conserving the frogs is a good initiative. The destruction of one species has a huge impact on the ecosystem. It is thus, necessary for everyone to be involved in endangered frogs conservation,” the traditional ruler said.
An elite and resident of the Mount Nlonako Area, Mr. Nkede Henry, was particularly impressed with the strategy of educating children and engaging them in conservation efforts. “Involving kids in the conservation of amphibians is a unique way to fight against the extinction of these species. They will take the conservation message to their parents who are hunters. Goliath frog is a delicacy and a great source of protein in this area. But since children are getting to understand the need for conservation, I think there is hope,” he added.
At the end of the community-wide amphibians conservation campaign, the community kids and youths of the Mount Nlonako Area promised to continue transmitting conservation messages learnt to their parents.
The community-wide sensitization campaign for endangered amphibians conservation in the Mount Nlonako area is a culmination of a 3-month education programme dubbed the Young Amphibians Conservation Stewards implemented with funding support from the British Ecological Society and Voice for Nature Foundation. Through this programme, VoNat has boosted the understanding of over 50 kids and youths in the Mount Nlonako Area about amphibians ecology and conservation importance through experiential surveys and studies in amphibians habitat and arts and craft sessions amongst others.