The FTNS, the Lobéké National Park Conservation Service and the Ministry of Forests and Fauna (MINFOF) met with the Governor and representatives of various ministries (MINEPAT, MINMIDT, MINAS, MINADER, MINEPIA, MINTOUL, MINAC, customs, security and law enforcement forces, etc.) in the Eastern Region on 21 February 2018. This exceptional meeting was held in the form of a consultation meeting in the meeting room of the Governor’s Office located in the city of Bertoua.
This innovative initiative was initiated by the ministers in charge of forests in the TNS area at the last session of the Tri-national Supervisory and Arbitration Committee (CTSA) in October 2017 in Douala, recommended in its final communiqué to “Take the initiative through Governors and Prefects to establish a synergy of action at the local level between the TNS Conservation Services and the units of the security and defence forces in order to limit the intrusion of poachers and the circulation of weapons and munitions of war”. It is according to this instruction that FTNS has committed itself to accompany the TNS national parks, starting with Cameroon.
With more than thirty participants (regional technical services and media), the meeting began at 10 a.m. with a brief introduction by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NSF, Mr. MAKON Samuel. Then, the welcome address was delivered by the Governor of the Eastern Region, Mr. MVONGO Grégoire.
After this very warm kick-off, interactive and detailed presentations were then made by Mr KANA Romain (FTNS Programme Officer) and Mr MENGAMEGNA Achille (Conservateur du Parc National de Lobéké) to better inform participants about the Sangha Tri-national, the resolutions of the third session of the CTSA and the current context for the management of the Lobéké National Park as a World Heritage site. Several questions on the circulation of weapons in the Eastern region as well as the problem of mining in the periphery of the park were also addressed.
Satisfied and convinced by the various exchanges, the land chief of the Eastern Forest Region, Mr. MVONGO Grégoire, made an exceptional announcement, that of an upcoming descent into the TNS and specifically into Lobéké National Park. A declaration that fully delighted MINFOF and FTNS, who see it as a major achievement of the mission entrusted to them by the CTSA, the supreme management body of the TNS.
Satisfied and convinced by the various exchanges, the land chief of the Eastern Forest Region, Mr. MVONGO Grégoire, made an exceptional announcement, that of an upcoming descent into the TNS and specifically into the Lobéké National Park
The final communiqué was then read by Mr. LEKEALEM Joseph, Director of Wildlife and Protected Areas at MINFOF. After amending the document, the Governor signed it and then took a family photo and a meal at the Eastern Region Regional Delegation of Forests and Wildlife. According to the Executive Director of the FTNS, Mr. ZOGNOU Théophile, following this meeting, similar initiatives will be carried out in the Central African and Congolese segments of the TNS. Following this, a major meeting bringing together all stakeholders from the different countries will be organized to exchange ideas gathered during these national forums and for better implementation in the direction of concerted and consensual management of the TNS protected areas.