Socio-economic impacts of protected areas on people living close to the Mount Cameroon national park

Abstract

Local people living near protected areas can either be a threat to conservation or allies. Whether they take actions which are consistent with conservation or detrimental to conservation depends in part on the costs and benefits associated with each action. Incorporating the views of these local people in the process of decision-making and providing alternative livelihood solutions are important steps towards successful conservation. The aim of this study was to highlight the problems encountered by local populations living near Mount Cameroon National Park, Cameroon. We sampled households in six village communities who tend to harvest large volumes of resources from the national park, and found that due to restrictions on access to resources they consider a traditional right, these people exert a high pressure on wildlife through increased poaching. The majority were also against the creation of this park. We show that park management has recruited local people as Cluster Facilitators who take part in the decision-making process. This has led to increased collaboration of local communities, and a reduction in poaching activities. We argue that for local communities to be compliant with management policies, they should take part in the process of decision-making.