Deal #9293

There are no communities living within the area of the Mount Cameroon National Park. The local communities, such as the villages of Bokwango, Batoke, Bakingili, Bwassa, Mapanja, and Etome, are located in the buffer zone adjacent to the park, which extends approximately 5 km from the park's boundary towards the surrounding villages. These communities heavily rely on the park's forest resources for their livelihoods, leading to tensions due to the restrictions imposed for biodiversity conservation​.

The document indicates that during the process of creating Mount Cameroon National Park, local communities were not adequately consulted. Although there were sensitization meetings, no compensatory measures were taken for the local communities affected by the restrictions on access to resources they considered a traditional right. This resulted in high pressure on wildlife through increased poaching and generally negative attitudes towards the creation of the park​​. Additionally, community participation in park management decision-making was introduced later through the recruitment of Cluster Facilitators, but initially, the communities were not included in the decision-making process​. (source 3: SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PROTECTED AREAS ON PEOPLE LIVING CLOSE TO THE MOUNT CAMEROON NATIONAL PARK)

There are reported land conflicts related to the creation of Mount Cameroon National Park. The document mentions that local communities have used the forest resources in the area for generations and consider that they have a traditional right to these lands. With the transformation of the area into a national park, these communities found themselves dispossessed of their customary lands without compensatory measures, which has generated negative attitudes towards the park and promises to intensify poaching in retaliation for the imposed restrictions​.

- Land Dispossession: Communities were dispossessed of their traditional lands, leading to negative attitudes towards the park and promises to intensify poaching in retaliation for the imposed restrictions. - Loss of Income: Restrictions on access to forest resources led to significant decreases in local community incomes, changes in diet, and reduced access to native medicinal plants. - Increased Poaching: Pressure on wildlife increased due to intensified poaching by local inhabitants in response to restricted access to resources they consider their traditional right. - Lack of Compensation: No compensatory measures were implemented to support local livelihoods following the creation of the park, exacerbating tensions and dissatisfaction among the inhabitants.

The local communities affected by the creation of Mount Cameroon National Park were not compensated, nor were there any compensatory measures put in place to support their livelihoods. This lack of compensation has led to negative attitudes towards the park and promises from some villagers to increase poaching in retaliation for the imposed restrictions​