CAWHFI component
financed by the European Commission (2016-2020)

Between 2016 and 2020, funding from the European Commission enabled CAWHFI to strengthen the monitoring of the TRIDOM and TNS landscapes, an area of more than 225,000 km2, by increasing anti-poaching patrol efforts (more than 3,500 patrols and 300,000km travelled), the use of innovative technologies (SMART, trap cameras, drones and remote sensing, etc.) and the training of more than 350 eco-guards.

CAWHFI's support has also improved site management through the rehabilitation of infrastructure, the promotion of eco-tourism, the involvement and training of local communities (more than 3000 people) and the updating/production of wildlife inventories (e.g. elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees). In addition, CAWHFI provided technical support to the Congolese and Gabonese authorities for the preparation of nomination dossiers for Odzala-Kokoua and Ivindo National Parks, respectively.

Objectives and Results

School outing © UNESCO

Objective 1
Promote the World Heritage Convention

Around 500 stakeholders (central and decentralized administrations, NGOs, private sector, communities) were made aware of the World Heritage Convention
Support to States Parties in the preparation of state of conservation reports, monitoring of sites and Decisions of the World Heritage Committee
Support to States Parties in the preparation of 2 files for the nomination of new World Heritage sites (Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo and Ivindo National Park in Gabon)

Rehabilitation of the Lope National Park's ecomuseum © ANPN

Objective 2
Strengthen surveillance activities and site management

More than 3,500 surveillance patrols (> 300,000 km) were carried out thanks to patrol efforts and the use of innovative technologies (photographic cameras, drones and remote sensing)
550 weapons, 350 ivory points, 16,000 munitions, 530 arrests made / seized
600 people trained including more than 350 eco-guards
Support and capacity-building for the application of new methods of resource management (SMART, EoH)
Rehabilitation of the Lope National Park (Gabon) ecomuseum

Bongos at Sangha Trinational © Andrea Turkalo

Objective 3
Reduce the net loss of biodiversity

Assessment of the potential impacts of economic development projects: SUDCAM Hévéa agro-industrial activities and Mekin dam
Creation and updating of inventories of biological resources (e.g. elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees)

DVD launch “Patrimonito at Dja” © UNESCO

Objective 4
Communication & visibility

Strengthening of consultation frameworks at local level (e.g. Stakeholder fora)
More than 1000 members of local communities made aware of themes related to hunting, right of use, wildlife laws ...
Exchange of information between the sites concerned by the project
More than 1,500 young people were made aware of the importance of conservation
DVD launch “Patrimonito at Dja”

Attainment of the objectives has notably been possible thanks to the successful collaboration between the technical partners of this component (AWF, ANPN, FTNS, WCS, WWF, ZSL) and to the success of consultations between the stakeholders (national and local authorities, private sector, local populations). It should be noted that the local populations actively participated in the planning and implementation of the activities linked to conservation

Overall coordination was done by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre with the support of the UNESCO Regional Office in Yaoundé.