Voice of Nature (VoNat) has officially launched its 2026 Conservation and Climate Education Programme, beginning with an outreach event at Government High School Buea Rural on January 21, 2026. The initiative marks the start of a new year of environmental learning aimed at empowering young people and their communities to become active stewards of nature.
More than 55 students participated in the launch, where they explored the fundamentals of biodiversity, ecosystem interdependence, and the growing threats facing wildlife and natural habitats. Through interactive sessions, students examined how deforestation, pollution, poaching, and unsustainable resource use are driving biodiversity loss and climate change.
Participants shared reflections highlighting the programme’s immediate impact. “I learned about the various threats to our biodiversity and the practical measures we can take to preserve and protect it. I also learned about harmful practices, such as the overhunting of animals, and how this can lead to the extinction of endangered species,” said Fossong Asongfack Cindy.
Songndem Zita emphasized the importance of community action, noting, “I learned about biodiversity and its components, as well as effective ways to protect it. I also plan to sensitize community members on the importance of reforestation and affectation.”
Similarly, Shalom Ule Nanje highlighted the link between environmental degradation and climate change: “I learned that poaching and deforestation are harmful to biodiversity and that such practices contribute to serious environmental impacts, including global warming.”
According to VoNat’s Environmental Education Lead, Nkeh Juliette, the program is designed to move beyond classroom awareness toward practical action. “Our goal is not only to teach students about biodiversity, but to inspire them to become environmental problem-solvers, young leaders who can influence their families, schools, and communities to conserve species, restore degraded ecosystems and better adapt their lives and livelihoods to the changing climate and its impacts.”
VoNat plans to expand the 2026 program through citizen science projects, field-based learning, and media & community outreach across Cameroon’s South West, West, Littoral, and North West regions of Cameroon.
By investing in environmental education, VoNat aims to nurture a generation of informed and engaged youth capable of driving long-term conservation, strengthening climate resilience, and safeguarding biodiversity for the future.
By Munyar Delphine