On February 11, 2024, the Council of Somalomo, 208 kilometers from Yaoundé, the political capital of Cameroon, hosted the official launch of an innovative project aimed at promoting sustainable development and protecting the environment.
The project, entitled “Introduction de l’apiculture moderne, une alternative de développement dans la partie nord de la réserve du Dja : Cas des villages pilotes de la boucle du Dja (Shouam, Ekom, Nkolekoul et Elandjo”, aims to strengthen the livelihoods of communities bordering the Dja Biosphere Reserve, an ecological treasure listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The project was carried out by Environnement Recherche Développement (ERD) with $5,000 support from the University of California, Los Angeles/Congo Basin Institute (UCLA/CBI). It has demonstrated its strong international commitment to the conservation of biodiversity in the Congo Basin. With this funding, communities in the Boucle du Dja will be able to produce quality honey, and in the near future, the Somalomo sub-district will be the premier honey-producing district in the eastern region.
A nature-based solution
The objective of the 12-month project is to build the capacity of 40 people, from the 17 villages of the Boucle, in modern beekeeping techniques, organization and friendly practices; four pilot apiaries of 10 hives each will be established in strategically selected villages of the Boucle.
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This project is not limited to the introduction of modern beekeeping, but is part of a broader approach to sustainable development and conservation of fragile ecosystems. It supports the livelihoods of local people through the promotion of alternative economic activities, while at the same time conserving their natural heritage.
Boris Ngounou
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