Campo Ma’an National Park Equipment Presentation

Campo Ma’an National Park April 6, 2009

Secretary General  of the Ministry of Forest and Fauna;  Director of Wildlife and Protected Areas and the Regional Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife for the South of the Ministry of Forest and Fauna; representatives  of the World Wildlife Federation; leaders and citizens of the community of Campo; employees of the Campo Ma’an National Park;  other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank the Government of Cameroon, the World Wildlife Federation and the officials gathered here today for the opportunity to officially present these Yamaha AG100 dirt bike  motorcycles and VHF radios on behalf of the Government of the United States of America as one of our contributions to Cameroon’s conservation programs.

This equipment will improve the park’s anti-poaching program by increasing the mobility of patrols and by improving the ability of patrols to communicate with each other and with the rest of the park staff. 

Today’s donation is part of $750,000 spent to promote biodiversity in Cameroon under the U.S. Department of Defense Biodiversity Program.  Korup National Park and Mefou National Park have previously received donations for biodiversity projects, and I am pleased to provide this equipment to support anti-poaching efforts in Campo Ma’an National Park.

Cameroon possesses a diverse geography that contains a wealth of plants, animals and other natural resources.  These represent both the natural resources of the country, which are used to provide a livelihood for its citizens, and the natural heritage of the country, which is passed on from generation to generation.  Securing these resources for future generations is what motivates the conservation efforts of the Ministry of Flora and Fauna as well as those of organizations such as the World Wildlife Federation. 

These conservation efforts are evident in the work performed by these two organizations in the Campo Ma’an National Park and in its surrounding buffer zones.  Especially important are efforts to fight  illegal hunting of animals inside the boundaries of the protected areas.  These efforts include traditional actions such as anti-poaching patrols that work to interdict illegal hunters and eradicate their infrastructure.  However, they also include programs that work to involve the community in the process by distinguishing between subsistence hunting and commercial hunting, promoting the development of alternative sources of meat, and grassroots efforts to alleviate poverty through community involvement in the nascent industry of ecotourism. 

We sincerely hope that the addition of these all-terrain motorcycles and radios will improve the ability of the MINFOF to conduct anti-poaching patrols and combat the devastating effects of illegal hunting.   Success against illegal hunting will permit the citizens of Cameroon to efficiently manage their natural resources and thereby provide a more secure and stable environment to the country, both now and in the future.

Let me again express my gratitude to the Government of Cameroon and to the World Wildlife Federation for the opportunity to help Cameroon secure its natural heritage not only for the benefit of the current citizens of the country, but also for future generations.

Thank you.