The Korup Project: A study of sustainable development of a high biodiversity region 1. To understand the physical environment of the Korup region 2. To examine the objectives and management plans for the Korup project 3. To evaluate the success of the Korup project and identify areas for future consideration

Korup National Park occupies 1259 km² in the southwest corner of Cameroon Annual rainfall of the area averages 5500 mm in the south, decreasing northwards, with a distinct dry season from November- March About a third of the park is hilly and greater than 360 m above sea level

The Decision Makers…  The Korup region was designated a National Park in 1986  The Cameroon government accredited it with this status however;  It was the World Bank, IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and WWF who identified Korup as a mega-diversity site.  It was later (1987) given Biosphere reserve status by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Biosphere reserveBiosphere reserve  It is currently nominated for World Heritage Site Status on a tentative list tentative listtentative list  The EU gave a bilateral loan to aid the development of the rural development plan.

Man and the Biosphere (MAB)  UNESCO’s biosphere reserves and environmental heritage sites all come under the same principle; that development should proceed with a perfect balance between humans and nature.  MAB’s framework for Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDP): Protected Area ICDP Biological conservation Human development Local Communities

This park is known for the fact that it contains the largest number of species of trees in any rainforest in Africa. It is also home to many plant species, only found in this region of the world, for example Ancistrocladaceae, a potential cure for AIDS!

Korup is a dense lowland forest, to the south, soils are acidic and poor in nutrients, in the west soils are coarse and gritty and inaccessible, to the east, volcanic soils provide the necessary nutrients for important cash crops such as coffee and cocoa.

Korup is the single richest lowland rainforest site in Africa for: Birds species Reptiles – 84 species Amphibians – 96 species Butterflies - 1,000 species Fish species Mammals – 160 Many of these mammals are endangered and some found nowhere else on earth. Examples: chimpanzee, drill, red colobus monkey.

In the hot, moist conditions bacteria, insects, fungi and other decomposers soon break down dead matter, releasing the nutrients which are quickly taken up by the shallow plant roots

Indigenous people in the park and its buffer zone rely on the park’s wild game (bushmeat). While some of the meat is consumed locally as a source of protein, most of it is sold for cash. Hunting is the most important economic activity in the area, generating about half of a village’s total cash income. The next most important economic activity in the area is collection of fruit and nuts both for consumption and for selling. Following the 1986 establishment of the Park, hunting in it was declared illegal. The local residents were offered no adequate alternative means for income generation. Conservation efforts were being undermined because local needs were not being addressed adequately by project designers Of the 6 villages within the Park, only one so far has been relocated.

Between May and August, undeveloped roads become muddy paths and places such as Korup are virtually inaccessible. There is no circular route for tourists to visit the National Park, so the road from Mundemba is used for both legs of the trip.

Ecotourism has the potential to contribute to the local and national economy through foreign exchange, business and employment opportunities. There are a variety of rules that are currently in place in Korup National Park: Tourists cannot experience the park on foot Tourist numbers are limited Tourist accommodation is made out of local materials Tourist facilities are not luxurious and unsustainable In Cameroon’s economic development plan, tourism occupies the fifth position in a ten-point program.

Ecotourism should: promote positive environmental ethics (teach and encourage appropriate behaviour); concentrate on the intrinsic values of the specific ecosystem rather than on facilities and services involve a direct experience with nature; be supported by high-quality preparation on the part of both providers and participants not degrade or exploit the natural environment either directly or indirectly; and contribute to the management and protection of the natural environment.