In a significant step towards sustainable conservation and community wellbeing, the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), in partnership with WWF, recently trained over 80 people, including ecoguards, members of village anti-poaching committees (COVILAB), biomonitoring assistants, and representatives from the Baka community, around Lobeke National Park, a vital segment of the Tri-National Sangha (TNS) transboundary landscape spanning Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo.
The three-day capacity-building workshop, held in Yokadouma from May 26 to 28, 2025, and presided over by MINFOF Delegate for Boumba and Ngoko Division Alhadji Halla, focused on combating wildlife crime while ensuring respect for the rights of local and Indigenous communities.
The training modules were delivered by experts, including representatives from sectoral government institutions (magistrates, the Cameroon Human Rights Commission, police, and lawyers), civil society organizations, and WWF resource persons. It equipped participants with skills in applying the Ecoguards Code of Conduct, resolving conflict with zero abuse, adhering to human rights principles, and best practices specific to indigenous peoples in conservation enforcement.
Supported by WWF and key partners, including ZSL, GEF, and Noé Nature+, this training is part of the Lobeke National Park Management’s commitment to promoting rights-based conservation enforcement and ensuring that conservation efforts respect local communities’ rights.
Efforts to Strengthen Rights-Based Conservation
Since 2019, WWF and MINFOF have intensified efforts to balance conservation with human rights, addressing past concerns about human rights abuses during anti-poaching operations. Key measures include facilitating annual training sessions for ecoguards and community members involved in anti-poaching activities, establishing a Human Rights Center near Lobeke (October 2019), signing a Memorandum of Understanding between MINFOF and the Baka Association ASBABUK (February 2019, renewed in September 2023), and adopting the Ecoguards Code of Conduct (March 2024).
These initiatives have yielded significant progress, with no reported rights violations during anti-poaching operations in the last two years.
Essoka Jean, a Baka community member from Socambo, a village at the edge of the park, shared his experience: “I have been working with ecoguards these past years, and the relationship has been good. We collaborate well and do not have any problems. It must continue like this.”
Local CSO CEFAID, which oversees the Community Complaints Management Mechanism in Lobeke, affirmed these positive changes while stressing the need for continuous efforts to enhance human rights compliance.
To further improve community engagement in conservation, participants recommended a vast sensitization campaign to educate communities around the park about Cameroon’s new wildlife law.
As Lobeke National Park aims to bolster its management strategies, Romanus Ikfuingei, Program Manager for WWF Jengi TNS, highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration: “By uniting park management, communities, and CSOs, we can protect Lobeke’s biodiversity while ensuring equitable benefits for all.”