Nigeria and Cameroon have launched a regional platform aimed at jointly managing the Mandara region’s shared environmental resources to tackle ecological challenges and enhance community livelihoods.
This initiative was announced at the Regional Workshop on Transboundary Ecosystem Management of the Mount Mandara Plateau, held on Monday in Abuja.
Prof. Joseph Utsev, Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, represented by Adeyinka Adenopo, highlighted that the workshop is designed to build capacity and establish a joint framework for managing the region’s shared ecosystem.
He emphasized that the collaboration aims to foster sustainable practices that will benefit communities on both sides of the border.
The initiative identifies key capacity-building needs to improve ecosystem governance and sets out to create national platforms for environmental management in both countries. Mr. Michael Shehu from Adamawa State’s Michika Local Government underscored the importance of the platform, which unites representatives from Nigeria and Cameroon to devise solutions for challenges like soil erosion that affect local agriculture and households.
Shehu suggested that implementing projects such as dam construction and water management infrastructure could mitigate these issues and promote sustainable land use, directly improving local living conditions.
Cameroon’s National President of the Mandara Platform, Mr. Yama Gilbert, expressed his appreciation for the governments’ commitment to the initiative. He described the project as a source of “double pride” for Cameroon due to its dual focus on sustainable resource management and livelihood enhancement. Gilbert also acknowledged the support of the Niger Basin Authority and other partners involved in the project.
Mr. Allomasso Tchokponhoué, Regional Project Coordinator for the Niger Basin Integrated Transboundary Ecosystem and Adaptation Support (NB-ITTAS) project, pointed out the workshop’s role in training stakeholders on resource management and securing sustainability funding. He emphasized the importance of applying these learnings to develop impactful, community-centered projects.
The reports gathered that the Mount Mandara Plateau, encompassing the Mandara Mountains in northern Cameroon and northeastern Nigeria, is an ecoregion known for its volcanic landscape. Conservation efforts in the area focus on promoting sustainable farming, reforestation, and establishing protected zones to safeguard the ecosystem.
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