This project aims to support a dynamic group of young Cameroonian conservation technicians in their efforts to empower themselves to take the lead in conservation implementation in their country. Nature Cameroon founded in 2004, by a group of former WCS employees at Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary site. Support is needed in the areas of:

• Environmental Conservation Education campaign

• Capacity building and registration of 7 Clan forest councils

• Need assessment of 8 direct impact villages.

Some members of the team working for Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary founded this NGO which I have the honour to lead. The Banyang-Mbo project was conceived in 1996 with the goal of conserving this biologically rich site through community management. This site is extremely rich in biodiversity and endemics and forms part of the lower Guinean forest which is widely held to be the most biologically important forest complex in West/Central Africa. It is home to 325 bird species, 405 plant species, 33 large mammal species including elephants, buffalos, chimps, drills etc, and 63 reptiles from 18 families.

The team of founding members of Nature Cameroon was motivated to establish a strong indigenous conservation NGO for several reasons:

• To implement conservation activities in Cameroon;

• To continue the conservation initiatives in the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary by protecting the key species named above;

• To empower Cameroonians to implement conservation initiatives that are currently being performed by international NGOs and multilateral donor projects;

• To lobby the government of Cameroon on environmental, biodiversity conservation and forestry policy issues.