only 4% of plastics produced in sub-saharan africa are recycled.

but namé recycling in cameroon has a mission to promote a circular economy by giving a second life to plastic waste and reducing plastic pollution. at the same time, they hope to bring economic opportunities to the communities that they serve.

namé collects various kinds of plastics through a network of informal collectors and businesses in cameroon. they then turn much of that waste into large, fully recycled pallets that replace the need for wooden ones.

picture a young chimp, once subjected to the horrors of captivity and the whims of the pet trade, now swinging confidently through trees, a sign of restored freedom. imagine the camaraderie among rescued gorillas as they form close-knit bonds, reminiscent of their wild counterparts. these snapshots of triumph over adversity paint a canvas of hope for biodiversity.

in the heart of cameroon’s wild expanse, a chorus of life echoes through the trees of mefou park, located south of the country’s center region, bearing witness to an extraordinary tale of compassion and resilience. at the helm of this story stands ape action africa, an organization that is at the frontline of forest and biodiversity conservation, working to rewrite the fate of endangered primates orphaned by the sinister illegal bushmeat and pet trades. with a steadfast commitment to conservation, they’re not only saving lives, but changing the narrative of biodiversity preservation.

as the sun rises over the horizon, the sanctuary comes to life with a symphony of sounds, resounding tales of resilience, and second chances. sights and trails greet visitors fortunate enough to step into this haven. among the towering trees and lush foliage reside the voices of survival, the beating hearts of almost 300 rescued primates. chimpanzees, gorillas, and small monkeys are given a new chance on life, nestled within the protective embrace of ape action africa, a stark contrast to the horrors they’ve endured. 

“for every individual who is found, rescued and brought here, it is estimated that up to 10 adults died in the wild, with whole families being wiped out to supply the illegal bushmeat trade. and this is not just a cameroonian problem. it is an international problem,” communications coordinator at ape action africa, jo gaweda said.

she stressed the need to protect gorillas, which are classified as an endangered species by the international union for conservation of nature.

growing challenges in ape conservation

gaweda spoke of their close collaboration with the cameroonian government through the ministry of forestry and wildlife, where the ministry confiscates the orphans and hands them over to ape action africa to bond with a new family. 

“this is our 27th year of operation,” she said, a testament to their enduring commitment. however, she expressed a deep concern that “we do not want to be growing, but every year we receive more orphans, meaning we have to build more forest enclosures for individuals who have been taken from their natural home – the wild.” she suggested that their growth is not by design, rather necessity as each year ushers in a new wave of orphans and drives them to build more enclosures and secure additional funding to ensure these innocent lives are safeguarded.

powered by community and solar energy

amidst the heartwarming tales of rescue, the innovative use of solar-powered electric fences shines through as visitors tour the sanctuary. ape action africa’s embrace of sustainable technology underscores their commitment to preserving both the lives of primates and the planet. these solar powered fences portray cutting-edge solutions to energy challenges such as access to electricity. 

ape action africa’s impact extends beyond enclosures and energy sources. their reach is felt through the hearts and minds of local communities. the organization’s dedication to empowering locals and alleviating poverty is revealed in gaweda’s words. 

“we employ over 50 local cameroonian staff members and much of the food we provide for the primates is purchased from local farmers,” gaweda said. the international union of forest research organizations has recommended that in an effort to alleviate poverty, governmental policies should not only focus on agriculture, infrastructure, and cash transfers, among others, but also take into consideration the role of forests.

ape action africa also amplifies their conservation efforts through educational programs where their staff members visit local schools and teach the children about conservation, igniting the flames of awareness on the invaluable role these species (primates) play as the “gardeners of the forests,” gaweda stated. she further explains that by educating the younger generation to preserve forests, we preserve biodiversity.   

this transformative education sets the cornerstone for building a future where humanity and nature coexist in harmony. forests are not only home to more than three-quarters of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and a force in tackling climate change, they also intersect with livelihoods by providing food and medicine to more than 1 billion people.

a hopeful future for cameroon’s apes

as the sun sets over the sanctuary, it casts a warm glow of hope for primates as they see the engraving on ape action africa’s wall. 

“for those who made it to mefou, you are safe now. for those who sit, waiting, imprisoned, we will find you. for those who live wild and free, we will keep you there.” 

despite all the conservation efforts, gaweda still strongly believes that “in an ideal world, we wouldn’t need sanctuaries. i’d be happier if the animals we rescue had been able to stay in the wild. at ape action africa, we try to create a semi-wild space where our rescued primates can live in new family groups in a forested environment as close to their natural habitat as possible.”

the organization doesn’t just rescue and care for primates, they nurture a legacy of compassion and resilience that connects different worlds. according to gaweda, “we receive a good number of both national and international visitors at the sanctuary every day,” inviting everyone to play a part in primate conservation. 

after spending a few years in cameroon, gaweda, a british national, affirmed that “cameroon has an incredible natural heritage worthy of protection.”

at a time when conservation and climate are topical as the world struggles to reach zero carbon emissions, ape action africa emerges as a beacon of hope. through their efforts, they are not just saving primates, they are sowing the seeds of future harmony with nature. the sanctuary acts as a living classroom, where generations learn to coexist with wildlife.

“if the world cannot protect and save primates from extinction when they are so similar to us, then i don’t think there is much hope for other species,” gaweda said.

if you are interested in adopting one of the orphan primates, or want to help sustain the conservation efforts of ape action africa, visit www.apeactionafrica.org/donate to make a donation. 

cedrick fogwan is a cameroonian conservationist and researcher who is committed to protecting species under the threat of extinction. his master’s degree is in marine and fresh water ecosystem management and his work with the african marine mammal conservation organization has continued to fuel his interest in creating solutions to biodiversity decline in cameroon. according to researchers, the main culprit to this decline is human activity such as overexploitation for food.

in 2017, while carrying out an internship at the douala – edea national park where he worked to identify protected species that are still being hunted down by the community, fogwan was exposed to the rich biodiverse nature of cameroon. one of the unique species he came across was the goliath frog which is mainly sparingly found in parts of cameroon and equatorial guinea. research suggests the construction of nests as spawning sites is a probable reason for the gigantic nature of the frog because of the strength necessary for moving nest construction supplies.

“i was so excited and proud to see that we have this frog species in cameroon,” he said.

a species in peril

in september 2022, fogwan conducted a field visit to the nlonako mountain along the douala-bafoussam road to identify and protect the endemic species hotspots and assess their population trend. after spending up to a week patrolling along the rivers, fogwan and his research team were on their way back to limbe (formerly known as victoria, a seaside city in the southwest region with cameroon’s second largest port) where fogwan and his team are based, when one of the fishermen they had earlier interacted with, called to inform them that his neighbor had just caught a goliath frog and was about to kill it for food. fogwan and his team immediately made a u-turn to save the goliath frog.

according to law n°94/01 of january 20, 1994 which outlines forest, wildlife and fisheries regulations, the goliath frog is listed in the cameroon law as (class a) protected species and it is forbidden to kill one. 

fogwan reveals that although it is against the law, the goliath frog is still threatened by the bush meat market. this risk is exasperated as many local people in cameroon are unaware of its value to the ecosystem, and even scientists are still coming to fully understand the species.

“it felt like holding a cat when i carried the goliath frog with my hands,” fogwan said after having rescued and returned the frog to the wild. 

this particular frog weighed about 2.8kg but they have the capacity to weigh up to 3.3kg, he said. “almost like carrying a newborn (human).”

he was so moved by the specifications of this amphibian that he started an initiative with a team of four known as the “goliath team” to amplify the conservation of these endangered species as classified by the official iucn (international union for conservation of nature extinction red list). 

reviving the ribbitters

fogwan has continued to grow these efforts by recruiting nlonako locals as citizen scientists in his research.

“generally, we try to onboard and engage fishermen and poachers as part of our local on-the-ground research team as they are close to the resources and can easily find the species.” 

fogwan typically gives them smartphones so when they come across the goliath frog, they can take photos which indicate the date, place and time the frog was found, and can be helpful in tracing their egg laying spots and how to protect them.

clearly, the conservation efforts are yielding results as fogwan and his team embark on more research and rescue missions.

“since the first rescue incident, we have rescued 20 plus more goliath frogs with the help of our local partners,” he said. 

“one of the major challenges we face is how to convince the community to give up their source of food and livelihood without an alternative,” fogwan said.

in an attempt to solve this problem, he has introduced the frog poachers to snail farming as an alternative means of livelihood. according to fogwan, this is gradually influencing them to move from preying on, to protecting the frog as they report sightings of the frog to the goliath team.

the project to save the goliath frog is supported by the conservation leadership programme (clp) run by fauna & flora international, birdlife international and the wildlife conservation society.

in america alone, about 500 million plastic straws are used daily, enough to fill over 46,400 large school buses per year. most of these straws cannot be reused or recycled and are not biodegradable either. often, they make their way into the ocean and waterways where sea turtles, albatross, fish and other aquatic life are threatened as they sometimes mistake these for food. one man on one of the beaches of kribi offers a potential solution to this problem. 

bamboo to the rescue

in front of a mound of yellow coconuts, moumboko jacques salvador serves fresh coconut water to customers who come to the kribi beach, and states that, “for about a year now, i have been serving coconut water in natural straws which i produce from bamboo trees i grow in my backyard.” 

formally working as a chef at the ilomba hotel in the south region of cameroon, salvador’s career seemed to be advancing smoothly until health complications kicked in. confronted with occupational health challenges, he was forced to leave his job and became worried about how he would make an income. fortunately, he found an opportunity to create a business at the hotel selling fresh coconuts to hotel guests on the beach.  

initially, salvador (affectionately called jacques coco by his customers) served his refreshing coconuts in plastic straws like every other vendor but he quickly discovered a major problem with this. he saw that the beach was laced with plastic straws which were discarded after clients consumed their drinks. they washed out into the oceans and littered the scenic beaches. he also observed that some customers complained about the unnatural taste of the natural coconut water when consumed through plastic straws. 

prompted by these environmental and customer satisfaction challenges, salvador was determined to find a nature-based solution to both of these challenges. that was when he came up with the solution right in his backyard. 

by serving the coconut water in the coconut shell itself, combined with bamboo made straws, salvador hopes to draw his customers closer to the feel of natural products. 

“on average, i serve 30 coconuts a day,” said salvador, who also estimated that he has avoided about 10,000 plastic straws over the past year, which would otherwise have likely ended up in the ocean or landfills. 

weaning the planet off plastic

globally, discourse on the dangers of our overreliance on plastic straws is growing. several cities and countries have already taken active steps to ban plastic straws. these include new york city, california, miami beach, great britain, scotland and taiwan. some organizations like mcdonalds (uk), the art institute of chicago and members of the association of zoos and aquariums have also abolished their use. 

other institutions and organizations can follow suit with similar policies and perhaps adopt more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions like the bamboo straws salvador uses, which he says are “in high demand as i often get commands to produce these straws in bulk for customers traveling abroad.”

individuals can also take active steps to eliminate plastic straws. to further curb the reliance on single-use plastics throughout the supply chain, the “be straw free” campaign founded by student activist milo cress, persuades restaurants to offer straws optionally rather than automatically and encourages consumers to enjoy beverages without straws at all. the ocean conservancy also advocates for limiting our straw usage, while vice president of the united states, kamala harris, has suggested that plastic straws be completely banned and the production of innovative and eco-friendly straws encouraged. 

one of salvador’s clients at the beach, who is also a trained medical doctor, dr. olga djoutsop, says, “i am really impressed to see bamboo straws and to use it for the first time. in my opinion, bamboo straws are better than plastic straws. from the health point of view, bamboo straws are healthy, antibacterial, and chemical free compared to plastic straws, and do not need any treatment except drilling to be transformed into straws.”

from an economic standpoint, dr. djoutsop thinks that,  “bamboo-made straws are less expensive to make, durable and can be reused several times or recycled, and from an environmental perspective, it is biodegradable and therefore reduces the amount of waste and plastic that pollutes our environment.”

in its 21 issues for the 21st century, the united nations environment program foresight reports says that to address emerging cross-cutting environmental issues such as water, waste and climate change, there is need for both better environmental governance and human behavioral change towards the environment.

with firm policies, every bar, restaurant, beach hotel in the world in a few years could be using bamboo or other biodegradable alternatives to plastic straws and plastic straws will hopefully be a thing of the past. the next time you order that delicious cocktail at the bar or at a fast food restaurant, consider how your decision to use a plastic straw could be affecting the biodiversity of our oceans and world. 

producer: beverly ndifoin

assistant producer: glen amungwa

translation: dees translation service 

logistics manager: fai timothy 

“i am the first and only girl in my family which alone creates expectations around me, setting an example for my brothers. i decided to take interest in an area where not a lot of girls are present,” said mwangala maunga, a multi award-winning young scientist, innovator, climate and child rights advocate from lusaka, zambia.

from a young age, mwangala was a book worm, with her readings focused on science and technology. after pondering becoming a medical doctor or an astronaut, she found herself thriving in all of the stem fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). 

clean water for all

driven by the passion to find lasting solutions to the prevailing waterborne diseases rocking most african countries, mwangala, at just 12 years old, came up with an innovative idea to produce a water purifier entirely powered by solar energy. her idea is one that supports the world’s move to more sustainable energy, which in turn plays a key role in helping both developing and developed countries in achieving many of the un’s 2030 sustainable development goals, according to the world bank group. 

she built the water purifier prototype with a combination of wooden and metal sheet enclosures, black paint for insulation, heat absorbent black trays, reflective materials, sheets of glass, glue and catch troughs.

“it is easy to use, as one just needs to put water in it and place it in the sun. however, as science develops, so does my idea,” she said. 

during our interview, mwangala, who is now 16, said she believes her water purifier idea is divine and could not have been timelier, as its conception was closely followed by the declaration of a cholera outbreak in zambia in 2017. cholera is a sometimes fatal infection of the intestines, often caused by drinking contaminated water. mwangala explains that, “the main reason i developed the water filter was because i wanted to provide clean and safe water in the simplest way possible, as opposed to a complicated water purification system.” 

according to mwangala, she nursed the idea for the solar water filter while she was in grade 5, however, she only actualized it when she was in grade 8.

“i remember sitting in a science class and drawing the draft in my exercise book,” she said. “when i showed my friend and asked if she thinks it could actually work, her answer was negative as she said it won’t go anywhere.” a few years down the line, it is evident that mwangala pressed on with her idea. 

using her voice

in an effort to widen the scope of her impact in the lives of other young girls across zambia, she founded the girl power platform, an organization that exists to create stem opportunities for girls especially in rural communities in zambia. 

“i live in the capital city which exposes me to more of these opportunities. what about girls that live in remote areas? i love to see girls thrive because i know for a fact that they have limitless potential,” mwangala said.

through her organization and her innovation, mwangala has been able to address and inspire over 600 girls in her school through stem and climate advocacy activities.

considering the fact that mwangala spends most of her time in school, she reveals she has not had ample time for community outreach. however, she plans to take this on as soon as she completes secondary school this year. “now that i am graduating, it will allow me to have more outreach time to girls in remote areas,” she said.

as she leaves high school this year, her immediate goal is to “complete a book i am working on titled, ‘this far,’ which practically highlights the major events of my life; where i started from and all leading to this point.”

she also plans to engage in mass production of the water filters by early 2023 as the water purifier prototype has gone through the necessary scientific tests and is now at the patenting stage.

her college ambitions are to pursue development studies and engineering. “i intend to reach out to more underprivileged girls in communities and inspire them with my story and educate them on climate change and how they can contribute to making our planet a better place,” she said.

mwangala reveals that she comes from a family that values education and academic achievements. because she is able to access more opportunities, she says, “i am poised to use my voice at every opportunity to educate younger girls, with support from my parents and siblings who have been real cheerleaders in my journey.” 

powered by the sun

her efforts have been crowned with several recognitions, including the best inventor in the science and tech category at the dstv africa multichoice – cartoon network powerpuff girls’ awards; the 2019 youngest recipient of the brenda muntemba award as an “emerging young african leader” at the push women awards; the youngest and only zambian speaker at the 2020 virtual international youth day which featured the youngest deputy minister of information and technology in namibia, hon. emma theofelus; and the youngest stem change maker award at the 2021 genius education zambia awards.

mwangala believes her success is determined by her “ability to do what she loves doing to her heart’s content.” using her gifts to the best of her abilities, she is willing to continue to challenge the status quo in stem by harnessing the power within her in practical ways to bring about positive change in her community and inspire other young girls towards sustainable development.

given that about 418 million people still lack access to even a basic level of drinking water in africa, access to clean water continues to be a permeating development issue. as access to clean, affordable, and safe drinking water is both a fundamental human right recognized by the united nations and goal 6 of the united nations, sustainable development goals, environmental and health benefits are both captured in mwangala’s water purifier innovation.

she has also demonstrated that solar energy remains crucial not only in providing the world with an opportunity to cut down on its carbon footprint, but also to confront the numerous impediments to sustainable economic growth worsened by climate change. 

this story was featured in our series, slipping through our fingers: the future of water.

textiles can be a double-edged sword. on one hand, clothing is a necessity. and on the other hand, textile production and disposal processes are highly problematic. we often calculate how much our clothes cost by just totaling the amounts on the receipts upon purchase. however, there is a hidden, hardly voiced cost — the cost on the environment. according to figures published by the united nations environment program and the ellen macarthur foundation, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined, and figure might surge to more than 50% by 2030 if we continue at the same pace. 

is it possible to flatten fast fashion’s carbon curve? 

“as a fashion designer, i took a walk around down beach, limbe and it was sad to see how the tidal waves offload our garments at the shores. since then, i have produced my designs more intentionally with fashion and the planet in mind,” says ngwane liz, environmental engineer and sustainable fashion designer as she launches the no waste factory collection, an arm of her main fashion brand, margo’s mode.

the fashion industry enormously strains essential resources and leaves environmental footprints all through the production and distribution chain. for instance, it takes about 3,781 liters of water (or, approximately 1,000 gallons) to produce a single pair of jeans, and 33.4 kg of carbon equivalent emitted for the process. this shows that the true cost of looking fashionable is a lot more than just a price tag.

“when dyes and other chemicals are used in manufacturing and clothes get released into waterways, they pollute the entire water system. wastewater from textile factories contain toxic chemicals that endanger plant life, wildlife, and communities that depend on these water sources for drinking, cooking, and bathing. fast fashion has a massive impact on water resources worldwide,” ngwane says.

she explains that at no waste factory, “we redirect textile waste from landfills and oceans by combining patches of left-over fabrics into clothes. we also train women and people with disabilities to transform these leftovers into chair cushions and other income-generating art works.”

she also designs signature pieces crafted with accompanying stories that showcase the unique history of cameroonians and africans to be passed down from one generation to another.

“we are creating garments with functional art and symbolic artifacts that speak to the bonds we have built as a nation and the history we are reimagining as a continent. i engrave on my designs a strong african influence that makes the consumer want to reuse even for a different purpose, rather than get rid of in a hurry.” 

what’s the way forward?

although it has only an average yearly growth of 3-4%, the fashion industry charter for climate action has a mission to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050. as world leaders gear up for cop27, the cost of transportation will not only be measured in u.s. dollars, but in carbon emissions, too. 

considering that cameroon spent 101.71 billion central african francs (about $150 million) to import 121,935 tons of textiles in 2019, ngwane believes the consumption of locally made products should be encouraged. this is why she ensures her production materials are locally sourced and locally stitched. she says: “my commitment to stand out as a creative sustainable fashion designer recently earned me an ambassadorial deal with guinness cameroon for their “black shines brightest” campaign. 

according to ngwane, “we need to rethink the cost of fast fashion and continue to find alternative ways of handling these tossed clothes. i believe the fashion industry has just begun tapping into the massive potential it has to drive change in sustainable fashion”

unep also suggests that the nascent nature of the textile industry in developing countries presents a huge opportunity to set the pace for the rest of the world by quickly transitioning to circular operating models. there is a need to radically rethink how we produce and use clothing if we aim for sustainable fashion going forward. today, as you wake up and look into your wardrobe, what you decide to wear or do with your clothes can help change the face of the planet.

to not only be one of the 17 young cameroonians selected from close to 2000 applicants, but also among the top three chosen to do a professional development internship can only be a divine blessing. to top it all, being strategically matched with planet forward (pf) as my internship host organization was magical, as it nicely combines the two main things that drive my professional goals — journalism and the environment. for four weeks at pf, i had a unique chance to work on some really exciting environmental stories across africa including; the development of a clean cooking technology by cameroonian aisata ibamie, nelson boateng’s transformation of plastic waste into low cost houses in ghana, and taku mutezo’s beekeeping and chili pepper cultivation initiative to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in zimbabwe. 

why do i care deeply about the environment? when i was much younger, my mother would customarily get us ready to join her in planting crops like maize and beans by mid-march, which was when we expected the rains to start. but for the past decade, the routine has evolved, as the start of the rainy season is increasingly unpredictable. rains either start late, stop early or run longer than anticipated, and this inconsistency makes our crops wither, reducing the yield.

it is no longer news that one of the most disturbing issues of our time, which is also one of the most loosely understood, is climate change. learning from the united nations fact sheet on climate change that africa accounts for only between 2% and 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, has led many around the continent to challenge the environmental preservation cause as an unaffordable luxury if the highest polluting nations do not take concrete actions to redress their carbon footprint. however, it is important to continuously remind ourselves that our vulnerability to the climate crisis is no longer a distant worry. rather, an everyday reality where flooding, heat waves, droughts, violent winds, high temperatures, fluctuations in rainfall influencing agricultural activities and more continue to wrap us around the climate “snowball”.

we recently saw in a un report, how climate change fueled a deadly inter-communal violence in the far north region of cameroon where clashes between choa herders and musgum farmers led to the killing of at least 45 people, many injured and mass displacement of thousands inside the country, forcing more than 30,000 to flee to neighboring chad. this tension originates from the fact that these communities depend on the waters of the logone river, one of the main tributaries of lake chad which has been shrinking over the last six decades, and has lost 95 percent of its surface water, diminishing water supply for the communities, as revealed by a un refugee agency. we have also seen from a research publication in the pan african medical journal that indoor pollution already kills about 7,000 people in cameroon annually.

what is my contribution to environmental consciousness in cameroon? after serving as a weather news anchor on cameroon’s national television station for about 2 years, engaging in research, analysis and presentation of weather events, patterns and forecasts, i drew closer to the science behind our changing climate. most importantly, i realized there was so much more i could do to raise awareness on the climate disaster that is racing in on us really rapidly, remind my people that we may not have largely contributed to this problem, but it is also unfortunate that the dangerous gasses emitted elsewhere do not respect country by borders nor their impacts.

i saw problems. knew i did not have the entire panacea for them. but, i definitely believed my tiny contribution could spark change. together with my friend – patu ndango fen, we started an initiative on the sidelines of cop-26 known as game changers. it just made so much sense that we work together as she had just been awarded a master’s degree in environmental engineering from newcastle university in the united kingdom. my environmental journalism experience combined with her technical expertise make us a great duo. game changers is a youth led movement that exists to champion advocacy for environmental awareness in cameroon by mobilizing businesses and individuals to make bold concrete commitments to adopt low carbon operating models and lifestyles. with the support of the uk government through the climate diplomacy fund, we have attained some milestones – marshaled about 20 businesses to commit to the race to zero, build the capacity of over 300 cameroonian smes on green growth, organized the first ever circular economy forum in cameroon, rallied over 200 volunteers to retrieve over 5000kg of plastic waste from landfills for recycling and rippled out to reach over 10 thousand people through media advocacy. our hope is that climate awareness will drum up to at least 1 million cameroonians by the end 2023.

what is our way forward? as we galvanize young people to join the climate fight, one of the questions i asked myself was: with the alarming rate of poverty and youth unemployment in cameroon, what will it take to realistically engage and keep young people interested in this climate fight? to answer this question, we, at game changers are canvassing support to launch a platform for cameroonian green entrepreneurs in competition for investment deals. these young people will pitch their innovative ideas to multinational serial investors and business magnets who will challenge, mentor and support to transform their ideas into profitable businesses. 

thanks to my internship supervisor – frank sesno, i was able to visit the multinational organization – cnn which has greatly modeled my journalism journey. with the coaching and collaborative efforts of kim ossi, lisa palmer, victoria middleton, a host of others at the george washington university, and the amazing people i connected with while studying leadership in civic engagement at the university of nebraska lincoln such as: meg lauerman and taylor lofdahl, i return to cameroon with new strengths and a more informed mission to raise awareness not only about the climate challenges, but also on innovations, ideas and people making strides to help the planet progress. and yes, my stay at pf was fun too! it was so exciting to go kayaking and art painting with kim ossi.

as a testament of the long lasting bond i am establishing with planet forward, i look forward to serving as a liaison between pf and cameroonian university students who are interested in environmental journalism. we will be executing an experiential learning project which aims at enhancing the students’ storytelling capacities by equipping them with necessary skills for environmental science reporting, as well as push the cameroonian narrative to the world. this project could not be more timely as it fills the gap of severely limited in-depth environmental reporting in cameroon at a time when climate change is an emergency.

full transcript:

from unclean air hovering over cities to unhealthy smoke in homes, air pollution continues to put human health and climate on the line. cameroon, popularly referred to as africa in miniature, is reputed for its geographical and cultural diversity, especially when it comes to traditional meals. for most cameroonians, the three stone fireside method of cooking transcends just making food. it speaks to generational cultures and bonds built over moonlight folklore and folktales of their shared history.

but, for the longest time, the process of preparing these meals has been largely powered by biomass fuels, made possible by the cutting down of trees. the health challenges associated with exposure to these cooking methods cannot be undermined as about 3.2 million worldwide deaths in 2020 were attributed to household air pollution, according to the world health organization. despite these health consequences, most people across sub-saharan africa still cannot afford clean cooking technologies.

aisata ibamie is a young renewable energy engineer, innovative clean energy activist, and a mandela washington fellow (mwf) from logone, a charey village in the far north region of cameroon, and she has had first-hand experience with the challenges of cooking in the country. (in full disclosure, mwf is where this author first met ibamie.) growing up in a rural community, fetching firewood for cooking was one of her least favorite chores –– a routine she shares with more than 70% of cameroonians who still do not have access to clean cooking technologies, as revealed by the world bank. 

driven by curiosity, ibamie’s rare passion and determination to change this narrative for cameroonians led to her creation of an energy efficient and affordable cooker: a cordless, portable, and non-electric bag made from cotton. ibamie hopes the asaab thermal cooker will go a long way to reduce deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions.

“if i want to cook red beans for example, it often takes us two to three hours with firewood or gas. with the thermal cooker, you need just 15 minutes of gas or firewood to boil it, take it off and place in the asaab thermal cooker and close. after 3 hours, it is ready. rice is just 25 minutes on the cooker after heating on any classical fire for 3 minutes. you can leave the food in the cooker for up to 10 hours and it will still be hot when you get back. our customers testify that they are preparing red beans, meat, and others. this is a way for the woman to be free. we have natural and artificial carbon footprints. using the asaab thermal cooker reduces co2.”

the tragic and avoidable chronic illnesses from unhealthy cookstoves continue to put women and girls at the most vulnerable positions as they often stand at the frontline of gathering fuels and preparing meals. to ibamie, providing the thermal cooker solution will not only save lives and the climate, but go a long way to address gender inequalities and promote girl child education in cameroon. 

“one of the motivations for the asaab thermal cooker is that i come from the far north region of cameroon, where women are often marginalized. so they don’t really go to school as they are are expected to take care of the family and not supposed to be educated in school. every time they are cooking — for up to three times per day. always cooking, so they don’t have to go anywhere because they are controlling food. for me, it was a way to give them a chance to take care of the family and also go to school, do business, or go on vacation if they want to. in fact, to be free of always going to the kitchen every time.”

a recent research publication in the pan african medical journal found that indoor pollution already kills about 7,000 people in cameroon annually. considering the numerous kitchen accidents recorded from cooking appliances, ibamie designed the asaab thermal cooker with user-safety in mind.

“i was thinking about safety. i wanted something light that customers would not need too much (experience) to use. the asaab thermal cooker is very safe to use as you don’t have to plug into current or put in the sun before using. it is very simple to use. even your children can come back from school, open it, and serve themselves easily — unlike gas, where you maybe worried that they are exposed to fire, which is very dangerous for the household.”

as the number of internally displaced women and girls continue to rise in cameroon due to security concerns such as the ongoing anglophone crisis in the northwest and southwest regions, and the boko haram insurgency in the northern regions of the country, ibamie believes the thermal cooker could not be more timely.

“the cooker is a blessing for displaced women because they are never stable. they are always moving from one place to another, so it is easy to handle. it is very light. it is less than three kilograms (approximately 6.5 pounds) and you can pack it in a handbag and you go anywhere you want to go with. i can say it is very practical.”

as an emerging young african leader, participating in the 2022 mandela washington fellowship at the university of reno, nevada, served as an opportunity to scale her business by expanding to new markets.

“i met fellows that i can work together with, in the same areas like cooking and climate change and thermal energy efficiency. so yes, i really met people and made customers who brought me other customers, so i have to ship asaab thermal cookers to the u.s.”

by helping to reduce the cutting of trees, ibamie is contributing to one of the focal points of the united nations environmental program (unep), which is to achieve a significant reduction in deforestation while boosting agricultural productivity. it also aligns nicely with one of the resolutions of the climate pact during the 26th edition of the united nations conference of parties in glasgow (cop26 glasgow climate pact), which hammered on the protection, conservation, and restoration of natural ecosystems such as forests.

according to project drawdown, if global adoption of clean cookstoves grows to 16% by 2050, 15.8 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. as the world prepares to unite for the 27th u.n. conference in egypt to reflect on the progress with pledges and commitments to accelerate global actions in the climate fight, ibamie hopes that access to clean cooking will give climate delegates food for thought.

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[editor’s note: this transcript was edited for clarity.]

mutezo is a wildlife lawyer, farmer, and mandela washington fellow from the teapot-shaped landlocked country in southern africa known as zimbabwe. this country is not only mutezo’s home, but host to a quarter of the world’s elephant population.

as a child, mutezo spent most of her summer holidays in a small rural village known as nyanyadzi in the town of chimanimani. while there, she nursed a love of nature, community, and agriculture, as she spent most of her leisure time in the fields with friends or in the wild. when mutezo’s father got a job for a coal mining company, her family had to relocate — and their new home just so happened to be situated around one of the oldest national parks in zimbabwe, hwange national park — also known as zim park. while at the park, she learned that every 15 minutes, an elephant is killed in the wild. this explains why only about 400,000 elephants are left in africa today, as opposed to the 10 million wild elephants that roamed the continent in the 1930s, according to the world wildlife fund.

despite this, zimbabwe has one of the largest elephant populations in the world, with a population of more than 100,000 elephants. although a testament to effective conservation efforts, this poses several challenges, as the current population exceeds zim park’s stated ideal capacity of 40,000 elephants. while elephants are near extinction in other parts of the world, zimbabwe is struggling to devise strategies to cope with overpopulation, yet the threats remain the same: human-wildlife conflict and poaching.

human-wildlife conflict is a big issue in zimbabwe, where most wildlife are found in protected areas adjacent to rural, communal lands. and not only is the elephant population increasing, the human population shares the same growth curve. the country increasingly sees food security threatened by elephants that encroach into human spaces, destroying crops and killing humans. mutezo believes this problem can be solved, which is the reason for her choice of educational path.

“after completing high school at peterhouse girls school in zimbabwe, i left my home and family to study environmental law at the university of groningen in the netherlands, one of the most prestigious law schools in europe,” mutezo says. “it was a platform for exposure to various fields of law including my area of specialization — wildlife law.”

during her studies, mutezo had the opportunity to work at the wildlife justice commission (wjc), which greatly shaped her perspective of the wildlife industry.

“it was during my work at wjc that i gained a better understanding and appreciation of the fact that wildlife crime is one of the most lucrative, illegal businesses in the world and considered a multi-billion-dollar industry,” mutezo says.

with the mass exodus of african youth to europe and america in search of better opportunities, one would expect mutezo to stay in the netherlands for “greener pastures.” instead, she packed her bags and returned to zimbabwe.

“motivated by my combined love for people and nature, and equipped with the knowledge gained from my studies and work in the netherlands, i decided to return to zimbabwe,” mutezo says. “it struck me deeply that it took leaving my home to appreciate the impact that wildlife crimes, such as poaching, have on zimbabwe — and the entire globe. my goal was and remains to find home-grown solutions to local and global issues such as wildlife crime. i would like the future generations to enjoy wildlife, too.”

it has been over 5 years since mutezo moved back to zimbabwe, and she has dedicated her law degree to wildlife conservation by working with the tikki hywood foundation.

“i am the first lawyer employed by a conservation organization in zimbabwe,” she says. “my work in case management includes legal advisory on various wildlife crime cases, including cross-border and high-profile matters, and has set precedence as to how wildlife crime cases should be handled across the region. my contribution also extends to drafting and amending key legislation including laws that ensure that endangered species such as rhinoceros, pangolin, and painted dogs are recognized and given the highest protection at law.” 

by developing partnerships with various national authorities, she co-authored a handbook on prosecuting wildlife crimes and educated law enforcement and judicial officers across zimbabwe on wildlife and the law.

“it has been a great honor to innovate and find ways to use the law as a tool to conserve and protect wildlife,” mutezo says. 

having participated in the 2022 cohort of the u.s. state department’s flagship leadership program for young african leaders, the mandela washington fellowship (mwf), at the university of nebraska-lincoln, mutezo feels she has an even tighter grip on her vision to solve the human-wildlife conflict in her country. (in full disclosure, mwf is where this author met mutezo.)

she returns with a wealth of knowledge and access to resources to effectively execute her focus project at hambai wild, a registered agri-business she founded, with the goal of finding solutions to the human-wildlife conflict, by creating natural boundaries between humans and wildlife.

“my solution to this problem is to use one endangered species to protect another, by encouraging beekeeping to scare elephants,” she says. bees, as well as chili pepper, act as natural repellents against elephants. 

“mwf allowed me to turn an idea into an action plan,” mutezo says. “the access to a coach also gave me an opportunity to fine tune the idea into a viable business model that i intend to bring to fruition back in zimbabwe. i also pitched my project to different people from whom i got constructive feedback to transition from inception to execution.”

she intends to use her prowess as a farmer and knowledge as a wildlife lawyer and policy expert to engage communities affected by wildlife conflicts.

to be more practical, she says, “hambai wild will use the contract farming model, by providing inputs to local communities such as seedlings, beekeeping kits, and by empowering the local population with technical expertise and training to grow chili peppers and keep bees. this would allow us the option of buying back the produce and selling sustainably sourced produce.”

just like in a colony where each bee plays a contributing role to the survival of the hive, she looks forward to strategic partnerships with other organizations that have successfully implemented similar models, like save the elephants in kenya and awf (african wildlife foundation) in uganda. 

says mutezo: “i encourage collective action by everyone to protect the zim’s natural resources for future generations.”