Voice of Nature (VoNat) and the Mount Cameoon National Park (MCNP) Service have been engaged in fine-tuning strategies to ensure the effective implementation of VoNat’s “Save the Elephant Initiative” in the West Coast Cluster of the Park. Save the Elephant Initiative aims to establish an eco-friendly system that will contribute to enhancing the peaceful co-existence of the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) with adjacent communities of the Mount Cameroon National Park, most especially in the West Coast Cluster.
A consultative meeting to better reflect on how to effectively realize the goal of this initiative took place March 6, 2023 at the Mount Cameroon National Park Service in Buea. It brought together technical staff of the Mount Cameroon National Park and those of VoNat.
The Executive Director of VoNat, Ndimuh B. Shancho, presented the Initiative; highlighting key objectives, activities/strategies, which VoNat has put in place to contribute to limiting human-elephant conflict in the West Coast Cluster of the Park. The Representative of the Conservator of the Mount Cameroon National Park, Mr. Ikomey Nelson, who is also the CMU of the Park gave shaded light on the different interventions the Park has carried out to limit human-elephant conflict.
This meeting culminated in the identification of some key strategies that VoNat can use in its Save the Elephant Initiative to better contribute to limiting human-elephant conflict in the area. “This meeting was necessary identify gaps in different interventions in the fight against human-elephant conflict in the Mount Cameroon Area to avoid duplication of efforts,” the Executive Director of VoNat noted.
Mr. Ikomey Nelson stated that “the issue is not just about implementing projects or initiatives, but ensuring that the every efforts have a great impact on conservation”.
Through this initiative, community members will benefit from alternative livelihood support and a mechanism to limit elephant incursion will also be reinforced. Meanwhile, conservation education and sensitization will be carried out in the school, communities and via the media, amongst others. The Save the Elephants Initiative is being implemented with support from Lush Charity.