StRONg

Saving threatened Rubiaceae and Orchidaceae from mining activities in the Ngovayang Massif Area (Southern Cameroon)

Duration : 2021 - 2023
Research program : National Geographic Society's Committee for Research and Exploration (NGS, USA)
Geographic extension : International
Central Africa
In- and ex- situ conservation
IUCN Red List
Mining activities
Seedbank
Threatened species

The Ngovayang Massif Area (NMA) is recognized as an Important Plant Area, due to its exceptional plant diversity and endemism. It is the richest documented area for Rubiaceae and the fifth for Orchidaceae in Atlantic Central Africa. Its submontane vegetation harbors the highest richness of threatened species of the Massif, but is targeted for mining. Therefore, a conservation strategy is needed to reduce the impact of mining activities on these threatened species. The main objective of this project is to establish mitigation and offsetting mechanisms in order to reduce the impact of mining on the 67 most threatened Orchidaceae and Rubiaceae of the NMA. Specifically, we aim to: 1) undertake in situ conservation by involving residents in the recognition, spotting and tagging of targeted species in the field, and promote avoidance and compensation measures from mining operators; 2) undertake ex situ conservation by involving residents in the production of seedlings from seeds or cuttings both in the Yaoundé shadehouse and in nurseries at the NMA; and by providing duplicate seeds to international botanical gardens; and 3) prepare and publish Species Conservation Action Plans for each of the threatened species along with a full IUCN Red List conservation assessment.

PARTNERS

  • Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD, France)
  • Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG, Etats Unis)
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBGK, Angleterre)