Forest Landscape Restoration Program.
Forest Landscape Restoration Program is designed to improve on the lives of impoverish communities and restore degraded ecosystems through the introduction and development of agro-forestry technologies and beneficial tree planting.
This initiative started in 2005 with support from International Tree Foundation. In 2007, a longterm partnership program was developed wth Trees for the Future (TREES), a Maryland based charity that works with local communities in developing countries to improve on their lives through agro-forestry. The program is focused on the Cameroon Mountains region and is also spreading to include other areas in the Northern Cameroon and South East Cameroon. ERuDeF is the Cameroon coordinating partner for Trees for the Future. The program seeks to
- Promote agroforestry and soil health improvement
- Promote watershed management
- Promote the climate change mitigation strategies and development of carbon markets
- Promote development of agrobiodiversity research in Cameroon and other African countries
Geographical area of Focus
This program is being carried out in all of Cameroon with focus in the western Highlands of Cameroon, Northern Cameroon and South East Cameroon. The program is being executed in communities of 17 Divisions of these regions. They include: Fako, Lebialem, Meme, Kupe Muanenguba, Ndian, Manyu (South West), Bamboutos, Menoua, Haut-Nkam (West region) and Boyo, Mezam, Menchum, Momo, Ngoketungia, and Dunga Mantung (North West Region), Nkongsamba (Littoral Region).
Target Population
This program targets resource poor farmers in rural communities who solely depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Since 2007, the program has improved on the lives of over 5000 farmers directly and indirectly. The program also targets primary, secondary and higher institutions to improve on their knowledge on tree planting and environmental protection as a whole. So far, 8 primary schools, 2 secondary schools and the university of Buea environmental clubs have benefited from the program through capacity building workshops and development of school forest gardens.
Domains of intervention
The Agro-forestry Program is directly concern with issues of;
- Soils health improvement (increasing crop production)
- Watershed restoration (protection of water catchments, water purification)
- Ecosystems restoration (sustainable land husbandary to reduce erosions and landslides)
- Rural health through the promotion of medicinal plants
- Poverty alleviation (improve soil fertility, food, support to farmer groups, )
Species and technologies promoted
The program promotes the planting of multipurpose fast growing agro-forestry species with high concentrations of Nitrogen in crop fields that will provide sufficient biomass to improve on the fertility of soils. The species are grouped into two categories; the natural fertilizer species and the medicinal species. Natural Fertilizer species
Calliandra calothysus, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia angutissima. These are the perennial agro-forestry species. However annuals including; Cajanus cajan is promoted for their beans which is a good source of protein and Jatropha sp use as a biofuel.
  
Calliandra calothysus =====---==== Acacia angutissima===========Leucaena leucocephala
Medicinal species
These species are cultivated either for their barks, leaves, roots, fruits and flowers use for medicine. They include; Prunus africana (Pygium), Moringa oleifera, Neem, Voakanga.
Prunus africana (Pygium)
The planting of these species is done through specific agro-forestry technologies including; alley cropping, live fencing, wind/fire breaks and contour farming (using an A frame).
A typical agro-forestry farm demonstrating the alley cropping technology
Apart from acting as natural fertilizers and medicine, these species also provide fodder for animals, biofuels (Jatropha sp), fuel wood, charcoal, construction materials, stakes, poles and forage for bees. These provisions empower the peasants economically through the sales of produce.
Strategies
i) selection and working with lead Divisional NGOs
ii) Creation and support of agroforestry farmers networks
iii) Monitoring, evaluation and mentorship of farming groups
iv) Setting up of model agroforestry farms
v) Awards to best agroforestry farming groups
vi) Development of a Tree Seed and Resource Center
 
Capacity building workshop with farming groups
 
 
Monitoring of established nurseries and germinated farms by program staff
 
Participants after school forest garden workshop (left) & Classroom environmental education (right)
 
Nursery construction in schools
 
Equipment donated to some farming groups
Building capacities of farming groups on agro-forestry technologies
 
 
On-farm demonstration with farming groups
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