African Center for Research Development and Climate Change

Annual Report of Activities 2007/2008

March 2007:
March was the inaugural month of the organization. On the 5th of March 2007 the first constituent assembly of all the members of the group was held. A decision was arrived at, at creating a Non- Profit Organization that will lead in environmental management in Cameroon. The organization will be a major research body, a think thank and advocator for better environmental policies in Cameroon and Africa in general. The organization was registered on the 17th March 2007. On the 30th of March 2007 a planning meeting was held on strategies and methods to address earmarked projects for the coming year. Also Ndenge Godden Zama who came up with the concept was nominated by an overwhelming majority of the delegates as director of the organization.

April 2007:
In April we commenced a three month sensitization campaign on climate change in schools around the south west province of Cameroon. The schools that received information on the first month were the Saker Babtist College Limbe, Presbyterian Girls School, Government High School limbe, Government Bilingual High School, Karl Steene memorial academy and many others. This was done under the banner of the "Green School Campaign". This campaign is a very successful campaign that has gone a long way to change the way youths respond to environmental issues. Each school that received training was mandated to form a club. Those clubs carried out environmental events in their various schools and also organised monthly meetings to evaluate the progress of each club.
Also we received the president of the Cameroon Association of Media professionals Mr Tarhyang Tabe Enowbikah. During his visit we were able officiate a working relation with the organization.
We also made contact tours to create other collaborative partnerships and undertakings.

May 2007:
In May of 2007 we expanded our sensitization campaign to the public. We started a powerful community mobilization event. We recruited and trained volunteers. These volunteers became the engine of our sensitization campaign. We also organized a leadership weekend for leaders in the various environmental clubs. During the events deliberations were held on how we could better improve the activities of the various clubs. This campaign benefited from technical support from the Teen for Planet Earth Campaigns in the US. During this month we were concentrated on energy policies such as energy efficiency, low carbon, alternative sources energy etc. During the program common ways to conserve energy and waste were discussed. Many innovative techniques were brought up. The above program was done under the banner of "The civil society and ways to conserve energy".
We also carried out a reforestation campaign. Trees were planted by youths and members of the community, certain species of flowers were planted in designated parks. This project cemented our reputation in certain urban areas and localities. Also certain areas in the municipality which had suffered from years of over exploitation and human habitat pressures received our attention as we replanted lost trees. This campaign was carried out by community volunteers. The focus areas for this campaign were Bimbia, Motowo, Isokolo, and Mpenda.

June 2007:
In June we tackled the problem of maritime pollution an aquatic waste. This problem was raised by many during our community mobilization campaigns. We came to the realization that the coastal areas were heavily polluted with organic and inorganic waste, dirt, dead fish, etc. This waste made the area almost inhabitable. Although the cities had tried to organize commerce around the beach they didn't make provisions for waste disposal this therefore turned the area into a habour for mosquitoes and disease prevalence. The project involve the community in a clean up and sensitization campaign.
The financial manager received training on Non-Profit financing and grant seeking from CAMNADEV. On the 30th of June the second board meeting was held, top on the agenda was the evaluation of progress and adoption of budget.

July 2007:
In July we intensified our activities on sensitization. However our attention turned to CO2 emissions and low carbon society. A march was organized commemorating the world environment day. Placards were carried illustrating solutions to a low carbon economy. Working sessions were held with environmental organization in Limbe. We came up with the concept of the Coastal Network of Environmental NGOs. This proposal was to form an umbrella organization that will act as a strong form of lobby at the local and national levels.

August 2007:
In August of 2007 we started a radio program called environment watchdog. This program tackled critical environmental issues in Cameroon. We invited a panel of guest who deliberated on the various issues of the day. The program held on every Thursday of a week for the next 6 months.
The program received good reviews and we received an average of 100 callers every week.
On the 10th of august we held a meeting in the town hall Limbe. The event brought together delegates from the various meetings. The focus of the meeting was on energy policy.
Also we recruited volunteers and started training them on community sensitization and organization. This volunteers were trained on how to organize the rural poor on how to survive stringent climatic conditions.

September 2007:
In September we laid ground work for a climate change adaptation and mitigation campaign in both the agro and tourist sectors. This campaign involved working with poor farmers on how to farm in harsh conditions. We also worked with stakeholders in the tourist sector.
We went on a working visit to Yaoundé; during the visit we were able to initiate collaborative undertakings and partnerships with different organizations.
We also continued the Radio programs and step up other forms of sensitization such as the video commercial on deforestation.

October 2007:
The third board meeting was held on the 15th of October 2007. Projects for the third quarter were adopted. Also applications for corporate funding were sent to a number of companies. We received donations from computer world. On the 29th of October we received His rural Highness the Chief of Mile Four Chief Ekwalla. This visit was due to our activities in his jurisdiction.

November 2007:
We benefited immensely from the financial support of Mr. Awani, a prominent businessman in Limbe. This gave us the ability to carry out a number of functions. We were able to meet with representatives of the Love and Charity Foundation International. Mr Ayuk Rapheal Director of the Love and Charity Foundation International held a number of working sessions with us. We also received Mr Pandan Rans from the Namibian based charity ENVIRO.

December 2007:
During the festive month of December we organized a youth service learning program. We grouped 20 youths from more than 8 schools in the province. The students planned and made critical decisions concerning the program. The success of the program was stamped with the exhibition that ended the event. The youths organized an environmental exhibition to demonstrate what the learned from the service learning project. We also received the annual award for Initiative and Development offered by the recorder Newspaper.

January 2008:
In January we met again with the president of the Love and Charity Foundation International Mr Ayuk Raphael. We signed a partnership to commence work on two projects. We signed a partnership agreement with the Cameroon Association of Media Professionals on the 2nd of January 2008
The first project is the "pathways to proper environmental management in the coastal region of Cameroon". The second project "Research work on Twin Trawling and shark fin fishing in Limbe".

February 2008:
We continued work on both projects. The projects saw a research team headed by Mr Ayuk Raphael carry out detailed research on twin fishing and another research team headed by Ndenge Godden carry out research on environmental problems around the coastal region.
On the 20th of February we met with the delegate of environment and nature protection to hold consultative meetings on the project of the coastal network of environmental NGOs.
We also received two students on Internship.
On the 29th of February a Board meeting was held.

March 2008:
On the first of March 2008. We extended our research on Twin Trawling and Shark Fin Fishing to other coastal villages along the Cameroon Coast such as Bimbia, Wovia and Idenau. The research team was out on the field for more than 2 weeks sourcing for information.
On the 15th of March the director met with the Chiefs of Bimbia, Wovia to discuss modalities and techniques of combating the effects of combating illegal fishing in their backyards.

April 2008:
We started consultative talks on policy change; implementation and enforcement of existing laws. Deliberations were held with municipal councilors on the 3rd, 4th 5th and 6th of April with high level councilors of the Limbe municipality. Progress was also made on both the environmental management and illegal fishing research teams. New findings showed a grim image of petinent environmental problems in the region.
We started work on Waste management in the Lake Barombi plain.

May 2008:
In May 2008 we received the National president of the African renaissance ambassador Mr Asana Emmanuel. We discuss widely certain issues to push forward development and intellectual freedom in Africa. Also we visited the northern region of Cameroon. This region has been plagued by the effects of climate change; the region is not only in need of civil society intervention but full and complete government assistance. Planning also started on a climate change mitigation and adaptation campaign in the region.
On the 27th of May we had a board meeting.

June 2008:
The center entered into partnership agreement with other research institutions such as the Center for Research and Public policy, Institute for African Advancement.
We organized a workshop on import reporting on Climate Change from the 1st to the 5th of June. We held a public sensitization campaign at Mile 1 Limbe on the 17th March 2008. The campaign focus was on Ecosystem Biodiversity with main interest on wild life. Discussions were focused on Chimpanzees and other members of the great ape family.

July 2008:
In july we tried to source for funds for the center by organizing a community fundraising event. The event was successful and we raised a considerable sum of money to keep the organization working orderly.
On the 6th of july the research team for the Environmental management project made discoveries of depositions of industrial pollutants in Mpenda. The discovery was a breakthrough in our research findings.

August 2008: We received the community award for development from the Mayor of Limbe 111 council on the 6th of August 2008. We organize a March advocating for the protection of the African Rainforest and other natural resources from the harm of big multinationals.
On the 20th of August we had a planning meeting on methods of approaching difficulties we encountered in carrying out the research on the ongoing research projects of the organization.
We rounded up the waste management project In the Lake Barombi plain.

September 2008:
The President, Project Manager, and one of the technical advisers attended a planning meeting on the government's maritime region development Program. This was actually the third planning meeting and we were at the level of adopting research findings.
Also we attended the planning meeting on how to use the HIPC funds for instituting and supporting non - conventional forms of agriculture. We had a board meeting on the 19th of the Month. The month was also marked by a land mark visit to Benue Basin. One of the areas in Cameroon were the forest has been grossly exploited.