Kimbi-Fungom Park:PM’s Decree Enhances Sustainable Management

 Regions

Choves LOH | 17-04-2017 14:26

 Pioneer Conservator and inhabitants are working to conserve and develop biodiversity and check illegal trans-border exploitation.

Created on the strength of Decree No. 2015/0024/PM of 3rd February 2015, the Kimbi-Fungom, National Park is emerging as a major attraction with efforts on course to conserve and develop its biodiversity. On-the-spot at the Park’s Head office in Kimbi, Boyo Division, the Pioneer Conservator of the National Park, Fomunyam Christopher Njoh is turning full circle with a staff of eleven Eco Guards and supportive inhabitants to ensure the sustainable conservation management of the rich resources and fragile eco-systems. Co-management approach for conservation development initiative of the protected area and natural resources therein is salutary for the Park which harbours huge, unexploited biodiversity.
In effect, the Conservator, Fomunyam Christopher told Cameroon Tribune that the Kimbi-Fungom National Park features different species of forest and Savanna Buffalos, different species of  Antelope, Pangolin, rich bird and plant specie like bush mangoes, njansa, bitter cola  etc  which are mostly exploited by inhabitants of the neighbouring country who are involved in illegal cross-border trade. From the look of things, the Park is yet to be the subject of any serious research work and the Prime Minister’s Decree is expected to inspire Researchers to discover the outfit whose area overlaps Boyo, Donga Mantung and Menchum Divisions. It covers some 95,380 hectares and the Decree of creation stresses the need to reduce illegal trans-border exploitation of wildlife and timber, promotion of the potential sources of revenue through ecotourism to improve the well being of local residents, protection of the river regime in the area and their sources. It also stresses the establishment of a Center for Learning and Research on environmental issues, wildlife and climate change. It equally emerges from the Decree that human activates that could jeopardize the objectives of the Park require an approved environmental and social impact assessment.