Environmental policy and administrative management

This Project is located in the Western Highlands agroecological zone of Cameroon and will cover six villages (Kedjom Ketinguh, Bali Nyonga, Kur, Bamendakwe, Njong-Santa and Mbei-Santa) in Mezam division of the Northwest Region. Land degradation is severe in the agroecological zone that is highly dependent on the agro-silvo-pastoral sector and is a key barrier to increasing agricultural yields due to soil erosion, loss of fertility from soil mining, declining soil organic matter content, and overgrazing. Considering that increasing land productivity represents a key element of any equation to boost rural sector growth, land degradation is increasingly viewed by local stakeholders as an issue of vital importance, and seen as both a cause and a consequence of the perpetuation of pervasive poverty. Biogas technology offers unparalleled benefits for households within the zone. The utilization of the total potential of biogas technology can contribute to increasing cheap domestic energy availability in Western Highlands, since after digestion biomass all nutrients and most of the organic matter are made available as bio-slurry used to improve soil fertility. This will ultimately lead to improved livelihood and quality of life for users especially the women and youth. The concrete results of the project, the proper adoption and use of the biogas technology will contribute to: improve sustainable natural resources management by improving soil fertility and reducing deforestation for fuel wood and charcoal; Reduce of the daily workload of women (wood collection and cooking); reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4 as biogas is much cleaner than burning biomass and coal; increase crop and animal production/productivity from using the full potential of digester effluent as organic fertiliser and crop wastes from harvest to feed animals; improve hygienic conditions, especially of women and children, by eliminating indoor air pollution and by stimulating better management of dung.

Cameroon