1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The Douala urban community intends to place the fight against climate change and the preservation of natural environments at the heart of its urban development policy. Douala is prone to flooding with nearly 250 km of rivers and heavy rainfall averaging 4,000 mm per year. It is located at the mouth of the Wouri River, on a low coastal plateau, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and is influenced by the tides. The multitude of human activities (encroachment, cutting wood) carried out there could be the basis for the disappearance of species subservient to these micro-ecosystems. Regarding the intervention implemented, the goals were:
1. To create an estimated list of the number of plant and animal species in the city and therefore contribute to the knowledge and conservation of the biodiversity of the city
2. To contribute to the fight against climate change through several specific objectives: germination of a collection of seeds of endangered wildlife species in tropical forests, scientifically identifying plant species and producing plants with medicinal properties.
3. To contribute to the creation of public and private green spaces with a mitigation and adaptation characteristic in order to store and absorb carbon
4. To educate the locals regarding the biodiversity of their city as many of the actions will happen in schools, markets, streets, sports venues.
5. To raise awareness of the attitudes and practices that contribute to environmental degradation and promote the preservation of biodiversity.
6. To contribute to the assessment of the potential for local or global biodiversity (1, 2, 3)
7. Planting threatened and non threatened species (1)
1. To create an estimated list of the number of plant and animal species in the city and therefore contribute to the knowledge and conservation of the biodiversity of the city
2. To contribute to the fight against climate change through several specific objectives: germination of a collection of seeds of endangered wildlife species in tropical forests, scientifically identifying plant species and producing plants with medicinal properties.
3. To contribute to the creation of public and private green spaces with a mitigation and adaptation characteristic in order to store and absorb carbon
4. To educate the locals regarding the biodiversity of their city as many of the actions will happen in schools, markets, streets, sports venues.
5. To raise awareness of the attitudes and practices that contribute to environmental degradation and promote the preservation of biodiversity.
6. To contribute to the assessment of the potential for local or global biodiversity (1, 2, 3)
7. Planting threatened and non threatened species (1)
Quantitative targets
Targeting approx 850,000 people (the population in the district where the intervention will be conducted)
Planting approx. 2700 trees until 2024
Addressing an area of 210 km2
Planting approx. 2700 trees until 2024
Addressing an area of 210 km2
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of people benefiting from the intervention
Number of trees planned to be planted
Size of the area considered for the intervention - the area of the city of Douala
Type of species planted (endemic and otherwise) (1)
Number of trees planned to be planted
Size of the area considered for the intervention - the area of the city of Douala
Type of species planted (endemic and otherwise) (1)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Implementation activities
The citizens association that initiated the intervention was established in 2019. It is called Association des Universitaires et Chercheurs pour la Conservation de la Biodiversité (AUCCB) and it's an initiative of young Cameroonians. The project is run from April 2021 until December 2030. This year, starting with the month of April, the planting of trees started on the streets of Douala. Throughout the planting season, the team also engaged in workshops for local schools and institutions and also trained people to attend activities in the tree nurseries the project is implementing. As for reforestation activities, sub-teams have been formed. These groups include, on the one hand, technical agents, responsible for controlling the planting of plants in accordance with standards, and on the other hand, manoeuvres, responsible for digging holes. Many bachelor's and master's students are involved in this operation. (1,2)
Type of NBS project
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The intervention implemented innovative vegetative plant multiplication techniques (clogging, layering, suckering...) used on more than 70% of the plants. The division is a vegetative propagation technique that consists of portioning a tuft, the strain of which comprises several shoots (runners, suckers, bulbs or rhizomes), into several new subjects. The latter will then be cuttings, clones of the mother plant. The division takes place mainly on herbaceous perennials with a large root system. It can also be tried on shrubs that lay down naturally or with a more or less sucker-like habit. (1,2)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
There were no mentions that the intervention was copied from a previous initiative but one must take into account that the organisation that implemented the action is fairly new hence its earliest actions are from 2019-2020. (1,2)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
It is unknown if the intervention was replicated however as the project ends in 2030, according to one of the sources, other trees will be planted throughout the city and in other locations. (1)
