Operating around the Dja Biosphere Reserve around the Campo Ma’an National Park and the Manyange-na-elombo Marine Park in the south of Cameroon, Tropical Forest and Rural Development (TF-RD) is empowering Indigenous communities through cacao-based agroforestry value chains and the collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and other fruits. The group has planted over 70,000 trees for production and provides training in collection quality standards to obtain higher prices for food and cosmetic products. Agreements between Indigenous women collectors and government agencies secure access and use rights in the Reserve. The model’s viability is proven through avoiding deforestation and a reduction in poaching in the communities. The initiative focuses on the economic inclusion of several Indigenous groups, some of them pursuing traditional semi-nomadic lifestyles, through access to education, the registration of community businesses, and jobs for 500 women collectors of NTFPs and 300 cacao producers. TF-RD maintains partnerships with several food and cosmetics wholesalers.

This case study is one in a growing series that describes vetted and peer-reviewed best practices intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to scale nature-based solutions essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).