ABSTRACT

This study attempt to investigate “Natural resource exploitation and its effect on ecotourism of the slopes of Mount Cameroon”. In light, two aspects of demographywerestudiedthatisageandsex,threespecificobjectiveswerestudied that is how is the local communities engaged in ecotourism in the Mount Cameroonregion,howdothe activitiesofkeystakeholdersinvolvedinecotourism improvednaturalresourceexploitationandsuggestedmitigations.
In addition, interview, questionnaires and secondary source of data where used. The data was analyzed using statistical and quantitative techniques from the findings it showed that there is a significant effect of ecotourism, on the exploitation of natural resources on the slopes of Mount Cameroon. As a way forward, the various recommendations suggestions should be fully implemented such as the creation of reserves and parks for the protection of natural resources, schools and training centers should be opened for the training of forest guards also villages should not only depend on farming as the main source of livelihood but others such as animal rearing and also the planting of trees afford cut down. This willgreatlyreducepovertyinthevillage.

CHAPTERONE
GENERALINTRODUCTION
Introduction

This chapter will focus on the background of the study area, the research problem,theresearchquestions,theresearchobjectives(themainobjectiveandthe specific objective). It will also deal with the hypothesis, scope of the study area (the spatial, temporal and thamatique scope), significance of study and the study area(location, physical and human aspect of the population) and the then conclusionandsummaryofthechapter. 1.1.Background Isabella Sayyah (2017), As places around the world begin to disappear forever due to environmental changes, ecotourism is becoming more popular and important thanever. Ecotourismdestinations not onlyallowtravelerstoseesome of themost extreme and beautiful natural wonders around the world, they also ensure that travelers do so responsibly. Often, the money pumped into an economy by tourists is than put back into preserving and conserving its natural environment — in other words, everybody wins. Generally, species richness increase with decreasing latitude. Due to this biogeographical phenomenon, most species are found in developing countries (WCMC, 1992). These provide services which are very essential to humanity. However, problems like rapid population growth, workforce-pressure, logging and agricultural expansion has often to led to overexploitation of these resources and consequent biodiversity loss (Burgess, 1993) see.

On the other hand, industrialized countries are characterized by high and increasing demand for nature-based vacations, with protected areas representingfirst-rateattractions. As these servicesare encodedin biodiversity, the importanceofmaintainingnature’svarietyingeneral isclearlyrenderedprominent (Chapin et al., 1997). Tourism could therefore be a means of redistributing economic resources, mitigating the socio-economic situation both at local and national scale and contributing to biodiversity conservation (Budowski, 1976). This however, will depend on the type of tourism. Most countries including Cameroon have identified ecotourism as a tool that can be used to manage its biodiversity, enhance the development of local communities, empower local peopleandgeneraterevenueforthestate. The term ecotourism has multiple definitions depending on the context it is used. It is often used to describe a type of tourism that focus on nature or nature-based tourism activities. According to WWF (2002), ecotourism is regarded as a proactive approach to conservation that seeks to protect the environment and increase the positive effects of local communities depending on the environment. TIES (1990), define ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

The definition of ecotourism by Honey (1999), is the most widely accepted used in the literature.Shestatesthat: ‘‘Ecotourism is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and (usually) is small scale. It helps educate the traveler; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights (Honey 1999)’’. This definition suggests that there should be a positive support for the conservation of natural resources by both suppliers and consumers and the social dimension of ecotourism should not be overlooked. However, Duffy (2002) argues that environmental conservation should be the focus of ecotourism as this is the foundation of all ecotourism activities. Ecotourism is a potentially positive contributor to conservation of the natural environment because it is conscious of the sustainable use of resources. What separates ecotourism from other types of tourism is its emphasis on the local community and its people and that all affected people should benefit from it. Countries involves are Costa Rica, Norway, Kenya, palau, Galapago Island, Antarctica, Iceland, Amazon Rainforest and Cameroon.

Ecotourism as a potential tool for biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation has not been very successful in Cameroon. Although the country is very rich in biodiversity, there has been a great loss of biodiversity especially in the Mt. Cameroon region, which hasbeenidentifiedasoneofthemainbiodiversityhotspotsinthecountry.Someof thevaluablespeciesintheareaincludetheAfricancherry(PrunusAfricana)which is used for treatment of prostate cancer by pharmaceutical industries, the Chimpanzee(Pantroglodytes),bushbaby(Galogodemidovil),Elephant(Loxodonta Africana cyclotis) and lots of endemic bird species like the Mount Cameroon Francoline (FrancolinusCamerunensis) and Cameroon Montane Greenbul (Andropadustephrolaemus). These species are constantly being exploited unsustainably by the local communities due to poverty coupled with poor governanceandweakstateinstitutions. Ecotourism is now being used as one of the measures of conserving biodiversity and reducing poverty in most tropical countries.

According Thomas and Cheek, 1992, Mt. Cameroon contains high species diversity and endemism in its flora and fauna. It is one of the hot spots identified in Africa. The region also has an unbroken sequence of vegetation from lowland evergreen and montane forest, highland at least 2,300 species of plants in more than 800 genera and 210 families have been recorded. Out of these, 49 species are strictly endemic and 50 near endemic plant species. Of the 49 strictly endemic species, 4 are at the montane grassland, 5 between montane grassland and forest ecotone, 11 at sub-montaneandmontane forest and29atlowlandforest ofwhich 17arenewly discovere during the last decade of forest inventory the presence of this plants and animals in this area have attracted many to the area to carry out ecotourism, thus, making the government and some private bodies to come in in other to protect the biodiversityforfuturegeneration. This thesis is aimed at examining wildlife and plants exploitation in the mt Cameroon region and how it influences ecotourism activities implemented by the Mount Cameroon Inter-Communal Ecotourism Board (Mt. CEO) as a tool for biodiversity or natural resource conservation in the Mt. Cameroon region of Cameroon. This research focuses on the livelihood activities of the local population around the mount Cameroon region, their participation in ecotourism activities and access and benefit sharing mechanism. The study also emphasise the relationshipandinteraction betweenthe major stakeholdersinvolvedinecotourism activities.

1.2.Statement of Problem

Unsustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity loss has of the last decade beengivengreat attentionbypolicy-makers, international institutions andscholars. In most of the tropical nation’s states, the trend of biodiversity loss is above all other factors, more or less influenced by institutional weakness or failure. That is the public sector’s inability to efficiently and effectively conserve and protect biological resources (Southgate et al., 1989; Ostrom, 1998).

According to Pouakouyou,(1996), hunting and poaching is also a threat to the region’s biodiversity. Hunting has always been a major source of livelihood for the local villagers in the Mt. Cameroon region. In the past, traditional hunting for domestic purposes posed very little threat to animal populations. Prior to 1960, elephants andother large game dominated the slopes of Mt. Cameroon. However, by the 70s and 80s, poaching for ivory and hide coupled with the deliberate action of the Cameroon development Cooperation (CDC) to kill elephants in an attempt to save their palm plantations greatly diminished the elephant population to less than a hundred. This activity was also encouraged by politicians, military personnel, traditional rulersand wealthy businessmen who needed the ivory for prestige andsale in international markets.In addition, the use of sophisticated weapons todayforhuntingisincreasinglyposingaseriousthreattoanimal speciesduetothe significantincreaseinthecatchleadingtoasharpdeclineinthewildlifepopulation. Thewildliferesourcecommonlycalledbushmeat inCameroonisveryimportantin the livelihoods of forest dwelling communities across thenational territory and a delicacy to urban dwellers. As such, despite the laws regulatingwildlife exploitation, many hunters are still operating illegally (without permits, using unregistered guns and unconventional trapping equipment) to meet up the demand forbushmeat. Despite the enactment of Law No. 94\01 of 20 January 1994 of natural resources exploitationandbiodiversityconservationinCameroon,thereisstill agreat lossof biodiversity in the mount Cameroon region. The major issues of natural resource exploitation in this region are poverty, inadequate law enforcement, illegal activities and ineffective engagement of the local population in biodiversity decision making process. Ecotourism was introduced by GTZ about 10 years ago in the mount Cameroon region as a tool for biodiversity conservation and a means of improving the livelihood of the local communities. This study therefore, focus on the ecotourism activities in the mount Cameroon region, local participation and the relationship and interaction between the stakeholders involved in the ecotourism activities. Biodiversity is a very broad topic. In this light, the study is focused entirely on forest and wildlife resources in the mount Cameroon region as partofbiodiversityconservation.