RCE Buea - 2023

Operation Green Sahel
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Operation Green Sahel
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Buea
Contributing organization(s) : 
Green Cameroon, Action for Nature
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Masango S. Sone
Organizational Affiliation: 
Green Cameroon
E-mail: 
info@greencameroon.org
Format of project: 
Text
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Web link: 
https://www.greencameroon.org/green-cameroon-on-the-green-schools-nation-environmental-clubs-competition-2023-edition/
Additional resources: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGJgS414MSM&t=40s
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Involving youths in the conservation of Nature
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Cameroon
Location(s): 
North and Far North Regions of Cameroon
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Green Cameroon, Buea Town Green Stadium, Buea Town, Buea, Cameroon
Ecosystem(s):
Dryland, Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The Far North of Cameroon is a veritable crossroads of trading routes and cultures. Besides commerce, the local economy is based on agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, tourism, transportation of goods, handcrafts and hunting. The informal sector is strong, and contraband rife. Wealthy merchants and traditional chiefs – often members of the ruling party and high-ranking civil servants – are significant economic actors.

Up until the 1980s, the region’s different ethnic communities were engaged in specific economic activities depending on their respective geographic zones, climates and traditions. Before the arrival of Boko Haram, desertification and poverty had already debilitated these specialisations, such as fishing for the Kotoko, livestock farming for the Choa Arabs, agriculture for the Mafa, with the exception of trading in the case of the Kanuri. Forced to move, people have taken their traditional skills with them and diversified their sources of livelihood: in the Logone and Chari, the Kotoko, who were formerly fishermen, now also farm rice and exploit natron deposits; and many Choa Arabs, traditionally livestock breeders, are now involved in commerce and agriculture.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Northern Cameroon experiences a semi-arid and hot climate. It is one of the warmest regions of Cameroon, with average daily temperatures of 35C. Here, the wettest months are June to September, although annual precipitation is low. Maroua, the capital city of Cameroon’s far north region, experiences around 760mm of rainfall throughout the year. During these months, humidity can be high. The rest of the year, November to March, is dry and hot, with the warmest months March to May.
In Cameroon, the Far North region is especially vulnerable to climate change. This Sudano-Sahelian zone is grappling with many environmental and social challenges, such as desertification, drought, natural resource degradation, flooding, and poverty. A large part of the population depends on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihood. In this regard, climate change is considered a major threat to achieving national poverty and food insecurity reduction goals.
A number of responses to climate change mitigation and adaptation also help to fight desertification and land degradation and improve food security. However, addressing land security is an important factor for the sustainability of these responses.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
February, 2023 to October, 2023
Rationale: 
In Cameroon, the Far North region is especially vulnerable to climate change. This Sudano-Sahelian zone is grappling with many environmental and social challenges, such as desertification, drought, natural resource degradation, flooding, and poverty. A large part of the population depends on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihood. In this regard, climate change is considered a major threat to achieving national poverty and food insecurity reduction goals.
A number of responses to climate change mitigation and adaptation also help to fight desertification and land degradation and improve food security. However, addressing land security is an important factor for the sustainability of these responses. The project had to do with planting trees in the northern regions of Cameroon and Getting youths involved in Conservation activities as a means to combat climate change and desertification.
Objectives: 
The project had to do with planting about 5000 trees in the nothern regions of Cameroon and Getting youth, teachers and communities involved in the fight against climate change and desertification in this region.
To work on inhibiting the advancement of the desert towards the southern part of the country and to establish a permanent mechanism through which future activities can be carried out
Activities and/or practices employed: 
The project had to do with planting 5000 trees in the northern regions of Cameroon in commemoration of World Environment Day 2023. Consultation with schools and planning started in both regions during the second half of April and went on till the 10th of May 2023 when planting in the schools started in Maroua. Planting in the schools took place in the presence of the schools administration, students, IHS and Green Cameroon staff. Planting went on in schools till recommendations from IHS indicated the preference of planting in communities instead of schools. From then on, focused was turned on contacting communities and making arrangements for planting on World Environment Day. The rest of the planting was then programmed for the 5th of june but due to the high number of trees and other technical issues mostly in Garoua, planting had to continue to a few more days after the 5th of June to ensure that the desired number of trees were planted.
Size of academic audience: 
7000
Results: 
Through the project, at least 5000 trees where planted in the northern regions of Cameroon involving schools and communities. The project also saw the revamping and strengthening of existing environmental clubs in schools and the creation of new ones. It served as a way of encouraging schools that have environmental activities in their yearly program.
The project had to do with planting 5000 trees in the northern regions of Cameroon in commemoration of World Environment Day 2023
Lessons learned: 
The weather condition was so harsh in some towns that full consignments of trees where lost because they could not withstand the heat and rays of the sun. Community members in some places where more interested in financial benefits and gifts than trees to protect their climate and environment. Water scarcity is also a remarkable issue in some areas of these regions
Key messages: 
Survival in desert threatened and arid regions is a major challenge and livelihood schemes can go along way to improving receptiveness of conservation projects
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The Project ties with RCE Buea's key challenges, one of which is the unsustainable management of natural resources
Funding: 
The Project was mostly funded by IHS Cameroon and we are glade to acknowledge their contribution towards the conservation of nature in Cameroon

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Green Cameroon.Tree Planting5 2023.jpg (235.64 KB) RCE Buea Tree planting session in the northern regions Green Cameroon
Image icon Green Cameroon.Tree Planting Maroua2 2023.jpg (105.49 KB) RCE Buea Tree planting session in the northern regions Green Cameroon
Image icon Green Cameroon.Tree Planting Maroua7 2023.jpg (156.52 KB) RCE Buea Tree planting session in the northern regions Green Cameroon
Image icon Green Cameroon.Tree Planting7 2023.jpg (218.47 KB) RCE Buea Tree planting session in the northern regions Green Cameroon
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
Theme
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes