PROGRAMS

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Each year ADO promotes environmental conservation education in schools, prisons, and local communities in Cameroon by establishing environmental clubs liaison with school administration in primary and secondary schools in Cameroon. This inspires environmental learning and stewardship among students and pupils who appreciate nature and Earth’s resources and understanding of the environment. Environmental education resources have reached millions of pupils, students, local inhabitants, inmates, and educators across Cameroon with non-biased and high-quality support.

These environmental education resources are motivating the local inhabitants, pupils, and students across the country to take practical actions to improve environmental responsibility. ADO promotes also climate change education in schools and local communities in the Mount Cameroon region. Burning and clearing forests emits approximately 18% of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Protecting and restoring forests is an essential response to climate change.

According to the intergovernmental panel on climate change, halting deforestation and restoring forests while adopting more forest friendly agriculture, and management practices would prevent the emission of more than 300 billion tons of carbon dioxide over the next 40 years. Reducing greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions and stabilizing atmospheric concentration at 250-450 parts per million carbon dioxide equivalent (ppm C02) is essential. The current GHG level is approximately 390ppm C02. Scientists have estimated that lowering concentrations to 350ppm may enable us to avert tipping points of ocean acidification and melting of permafrost and arctic ice. Stabilization at 450ppm is assumed to be the threshold to avoid dangerous warming of more than 2 degrees Celsius, which will bring potentially catastrophic impacts for natural and human communities including changing weather patterns impacting food production and species migration. Drought, desertification, and flooding may increasingly threaten our coastal communities. ADO solution is to promote protection and sustainable management of natural ecosystems. Protecting the Earth s ecosystem can yield immediate, cost –effective climate change solutions to solve the earth s resources for the future generation  

SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT

     Cameroon has recorded significant damage to its ecosystems in the last several decade following the unsustainable use and exploitation of natural resources. Cameroon has about 22 million hectares of forestland, receding by about 100,000 hectares per year .Deforestation is a major threat in the mountain forests of mount Cameroon as a result of increase in population pressure on the resources. According to a publication of the World Bank, 98.7% of Cameroonian low income households use only fuel wood/Charcoal for cooking. The wood demand form household energy largely exceeds the available renewable woody biomass.

This result to rapid rate of deforestation for domestic and commercial purpose, indiscriminate cutting of trees by forest exploitation companies with no operating license and little Government supervision in the forest region and certified forest areas. With about one quarter of the Cameroon’s forests managed by families and communities, resources and cost related to certification are major obstacles to expanding forest certification to the forest area currently uncertified. The status of forests, especially for forest owners in Cameroon and central African states, presents enormous challenges, reflecting the larger constraints of a lack of governance, weak policies and inadequately developed institutions. Procurement policies need to be complemented and supported by capacity-building and development initiatives if they are to fully utilize their potential to contribute to the wider challenge of increasing the Cameroon’s certified forest area, and the supplies of certified timber required.

ADO ensures the participation and inclusion of, Governments, Companies, NGOs, family and community owned forests in forest conservation practices through outreach education and sensitizations in schools, and local communities along the forest region of Cameroon. ADO educate and train village communities on forest certification, bee keeping, agroforestry, and use of fuel efficient stoves as activities to conserve the mount Cameroon forest

The government of Cameroon is promoting sustainable forest management in collaboration with non-governmental organizations such as WWF, WCS, and local communities through the enactment of Cameroon comprehensive forestry law (law number 94/01 of 20th January 1994).

ADO is advocating and encouraging forest conservation measures like forest education, Agro forestry, bee keeping ecotourism, use of forest saving stoves (fuel efficiency stoves or improved fuel efficient stoves are more energy efficient and can save between 60% and 80% of the wood fuel hence saving the forest, wildlife and restore the climate) in local communities in the mount Cameroon region to save and protect the mountain forest for sustainable development. This is in line with the programme of sustainable management of natural resources in the south west region coordinated by the ministry of forestry and wildlife and German Government

AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION

ADO is taking a comprehensive approach to strengthening agricultural system, fighting hunger and strengthening food security at scale. ADO does this by investing in cutting-edge research to develop stronger seed and greener fertilizers; helping farmer’s access capital; and accelerating access to mobile technology and content that learn and access to real-time market information.

Agroforestry and Integrated Pest Management(IPM) are important conservation practices. IPM is the science of combining different options and practices to achieve long lasting control of pest.The approach frequently blends technologies from research with traditional farming practices, to reduce crop losses in a sustainable manner. The success of IPM depends largely on farmers’ knowledge and understanding of biological and ecological processes that affect pest status.

Implementing IPM causes minimum damage to humans and the environment and helps to increase the food and income value at harvest. Participatory research and learning approaches, facilitated by extension workers, help to increase farm-level literacy in IPM and promote utilization of IPM to solve pest problems.

Among some of the problems that affect vegetable farmers/farmers in general in Cameroon is pest and diseases. This have forced the local farmers to use of insecticides and pesticides, The farmers have low level of education (more than 67% of the farmers are illiterates).The use of the pesticide and insectides has gone a long way to affect the yields(crop damage and poison), environment( destruction of soil organism/microbes) and the health of the farmers. The farmers have little or no knowledge on the applications of the pesticides to regulate pests.

ADO is advocating for the use of Integrated Pest Management(IPM) to control pest.This approach will blend technologies from research with traditional farming practices, to reduce crop losses,protect the environment and the health of the farmers.

ADO is training farmers, community leaders and extension workers of the ministry of agriculture and rural development, group leaders of farmer associations, common initiative group and cooperatives in Cameroon on the implementation of IPM to reduce crop damage, using practical demonstration on farmland in the community(farmer field school)

ADO train farmers on the following conservation agriculture activities:

  • Field diagnosis to detect and monitor pests and natural enemies, assess crops damage severity and develop vegetable pest lists
  • Land preparation for vegetable framing as Farmer field school for the community
  • Guideline for appropriate use and handling of pesticides
  • Field techniques to collect, preserve and send pest and natural enemy specimens to expert for identification

SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT

ADO is Combating Marine Plastic Litter and Micro plastic as part of Clean Seas Campaign along the West Coast of Cameroon

It aims to increase awareness and actions of the need to reduce marine litter and the general public’s awareness of the impact litter has on the environment along the coastal village communities along the west coast of Cameroon (Isobe, Idenau, Etissah, Batoke,Bakingli)

Each year, at least 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans, the equivalent of a full garbage truck every minute. Between 60 and 90% of the litter that accumulates on shorelines, the sea surface and the sea floor is made up of plastic, the most common items being cigarette butts, bags, remains of fishing gear, and food and beverage containers.

The consequences are severe: marine litter harms over 600 marine species (15% of which are endangered), it impacts on coastal economies, and can enter the human food chain through fish consumption. In the last 20 years, the proliferation of microbeads and single-use plastics has made the problem even more pressing.

Land-based sources of pollution have a major impact on planetary health and on the oceans, evidenced by the development of a Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA). Growing populations, increasingly intensive and large-scale agriculture, and booming urbanization mean a growing amount of wastewater discharge into aquatic ecosystems and nutrient runoff to waterways. Together, these lead to eutrophication, toxic algae blooms, greater incidence of water-borne disease, lowered resilience of ecosystems to environmental change, and harm to species, including humans.

ADO’s Actions to Reduce Marine Litter in Cameroon

ADO and Partners are committed to tackling marine litter by suggesting and recommending a national collection for plastic waste
1.  Promoting community-based organizations and plastic companies to participate in Regular beach clean-ups Activities in Cameroon.
2.  Engaging Companies Business and shops to inform customers about the negative environmental impact of plastics Carrier Bags and microplastics ADO supports the Ban on microplastics by the Cameroon Government
3. Promote research and community investigation on plastics and waste
4. Establish an informal Network to Combat Marine litter in Cameroon

SUSTAINABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY

ADO is Promoting better energy access and renewable energy development in Cameroon. The aim of the Access and Renewable Energy in Cameroon is to expand access to solar energy in unserved areas of Cameroon under a model of Solar energy access expansion that supports the implementation of the national decentralized framework.

Access to renewable energy will contribute to and promote the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative and the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 7 and 13).

Africa Renewable Energy Initiative(AREI) aims towards implementation of 10GW of new and additional Renewable Energy generation capacity by 2020 and at least 300GW by 2030(AREI,2016a).

The African Continent and its population suffer from severe energy poverty. The International Energy Agency estimates that the total grid-based power generation capacity in 2012 was only about 158GW, which is less than the total installed capacity in Germany alone(IEA,2014:ISE,2016).

Consequently More than 622 million out of the 922 million people(about 70%) living in Africa do have access to energy(REN21,2015).

Although the African Continent has abundant Renewable Energy(RE) resources, the potential for the generation of clean and sustainable electricity has not been realized.

The traditional use of solid biomass, the African electricity mix is still dominated by fossil fuels, especially oil, coal, and gas, and as well as large hydropower plants instigate environmental challenges like pollution, and climate change and lower the achievement of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).

The increasing impact and threats of fossil fuel (petroleum hydrocarbon) utilization to the environment are influencing an increasing desire for the emergence and establishment of renewable energy infrastructure across the globe today. Despite the profitable use and importance of petroleum hydrocarbon to every economic development, the desire to increase renewable energy access remains a strong driving force towards a greener economy, environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, reduction of energy cost, enhanced living standards, employment opportunities and also enhancing production performance of diverse economic sectors. Though the significance of renewable energy is widely known and greatly emerged and acceptable, with increasing access to this innovation in America, Asia, and Europe; for instance, Germany is working towards an 80% supply of renewable energy to its economy. But renewable energy innovation and its access today still remains a challenge to become established in Africa and Cameroon in particular. The lack of resources and strategies needed to build/establish renewable energy infrastructure is a limitation factor towards the access to renewable energy in most governments and nations in Africa.

The rationale behind the renewable energy concept is to create a sustainable future. The 2050 goal is to get all the energy needed from renewable energy sources. The transition from non-renewable energy consumption to a world of renewable energy consumption is cost-effective that is, providing energy that is affordable for all and producing in ways that can sustain the global economy and planet is challenging.

The rate of fossil fuel extraction and consumption is rapidly increasing from an increasing population growth and due to the non-replacement of the fossil fuel (oil, gas, and coal) as it is extracted and consumed, it is bound to depletion (oil and gas is running out).

The lack of accessibility to reliable electricity is increasing and hindering the chances of most community persons from quality education and good living standards. Thus, this calls for the rapid development of renewable energy infrastructures that can be a replacement or support the accessibility to a reliable electricity and energy supply globally.

The increasing in cost of fossil fuel extraction and production is a factor that calls for access to renewable energy. Extracting fossil fuel in deep water zones of offshore and other unstable geographical locations becomes difficult and dangerous, and this becomes costly to businesses, communities, and the economy when hazards do occur. Also, unconventional fossil sources produce large quantities of greenhouse gasses and chemical pollution and render unsustainable demands on fresh water resources with severe impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Cameroon as a developing nation also has visions towards the development of a greener economy through the establishment and access to renewable energy facilities and benefits. However, to lack of a clear renewable energy policy in the energy mix in Cameroon, indicates a critical subject that needs to be effectively addressed urgently by the Cameroonian government policymakers. The absence of this policy and lack of government commitment and eagerness is declining potential development of renewable energy by private sector investment and foreign investors, thus, limiting renewable energy access facilities to the Cameroonian society.

However, the design of efficient and clear renewable energy policy with strategic framework can influence private investment and foreign investor to establishment and create access to renewable energy facilities to the society. Therefore, this can become a backbone towards a greener economy, environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation and reduction of energy cost, enhancement of living standard, increased employment opportunities, and also increasing production performance of diverse economic sectors of Cameroon.

Climate change with the rise of greenhouse gas emissions from the massive consumption of non-renewable fossil fuels (natural gas, oil, and coal) that provide huge quantities of the world’s energy greatly negates the quality of the natural environment across the globe. Due to the increasing criticism on the impact and future uncertainties of this energy, renewable energy sources like; wind, hydroelectricity, solar photovoltaic (PV), biomass, and geothermal energy sources are becoming increasingly attractive as substitutes to combat the existing and prevent the future challenges of non-renewable energy impacts. Though renewable energy is becoming a threat to the petroleum industry’s existence, renewable energy access is highly significant for a nation’s sustainability.

Cameroon is built up naturally with enormous renewable energy potentials like solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydroenergy resources. Solar, biomass, and hydro resources are abundant almost across the nation while wind and geothermal energy resources are concentrated in some selected locations in Cameroon. These energy sources are highly significant to essentially increase the quality and abundance of energy facilities in Cameroon and its community.

Though renewable energy sources are oriented with shortcomings like high initial costs, and inability to supply a stable base load electric demand (Giraldo et al., 2014; Hidayatullah et al., 2011), renewable energy is attractive due to low carbon impact, indefinite supply, price stability in the energy market and economic benefits. The enormous renewable energy potentials in Cameroon thus provide a clear indication and evidence to the access of renewable energy projects, a necessity for sustainability development.

The Cameroon government has greatly focused and dependent for several years on hydropower where about 94% of electricity comes from hydropower. With this, the residential sector consumes about 70.63% of the total primary energy, the transport sector which is the major energy consumer in Cameroon consumes about 14.49%, the industrial sector consumes about 8.24% of total primary energy and the commercial sector consumes about 8.2% of the total primary energy (Wirba et al., 2015). Non-renewable fossil fuel derivatives like LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), diesel, and gasoline fuels are the major fuel options used in the residential and transport sectors of the economy.

Despite the dependency of Cameroon and its community on hydropower and fossil fuel, there still exist critical constraints and challenges of access to reliable energy supply and availability across the country most particularly its local communities. However, to increase the abundance, equal distribution, and consistent supply of reliable energy to the Cameroonian community, the establishment and access to renewable energy infrastructure must become an apparent need to curb existing challenges at the local community levels and at the nation in general. Also access to renewable energy is an increasing need to curb the exposure of non-renewable energy impacts and negativities that hinder economic and environmental sustainability in the future.

ADO’s Actions to Promote Access to Sustainable Energy in Cameroon

  1. Design and implement training and capacity building activities targeting councils government agencies, Civil Society organizations, participating municipalities, qualified service providers, selected households and public institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.
  2. Provide solar energy(Lighting) to households and social institutions (mainly schools) in rural areas and villages.
  3. Establish Sustainable Energy Network to support the access and clean energy sources and provision of support to Cameroon’s strategies on energy access and clean energy