The Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary (BMWS) has launched a 54 kilometer road project from Muangwekan to Edikang villages (Banyue Cluster), aiming to enhance conservation efforts and improve community access from farm to market.
The first phase of the project involves the maintenance of 13 kilometers from Muangwekan to Nzobi, amounting to FCFA 48 million.
The second phase, budgeted at over FCFA 50 million, will involve opening the road from Nzobi to Edikang.
The nine beneficiary villages include Muangwekan, Ediengo, Nzobi, Nloh, Esimen, Njuinyue, Bomen, Songlu, and Edikang.
The launching ceremony, held on February 25, 2026, in Muangwekan village, marks a significant milestone in the sanctuary’s mission to protect biodiversity and support local livelihoods.
Traditional rulers from the nine villages in their libation, called on their ancestors to bless the sanctuary, and protect all workers of the road project.
“Our aim is to facilitate easier movement of goods and people, connecting farmers to markets and promoting eco-tourism in the area,” said Esoh Akime Vitalis, Community Development Officer of the Sanctuary.
“This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and conservation efforts, as it will enable communities to access healthcare, education, and other essential services more easily.”
Akime added that the road project is part of the sanctuary’s strategy to improve community livelihoods, following a 2020 Cluster Conservation Agreement between the sanctuary and Banyue Cluster.
The agreement stipulates that the sanctuary will assist communities with farm-to-market roads, while communities will respect the sanctuary by stopping poaching activities, illegal harvesting of non-timber forest products, and illegal occupation of sanctuary land.
HRM Chief Ewoh Prosper Mayarh of Njuinyue village, the focal person of the project, expressed gratitude, saying, “We have been struggling for the opening of this road for 14 years. This road will boost economic activities in the cluster, which has been landlocked since the creation of humanity.”
Njima Mbuah Franklin of Nzobi village thanked the sanctuary for being a key development partner, while Ekole Ignatius, quarter head of Ekosse-Muangwekan, said, “The project has brought light to our communities. We were like abandoned people without roads.”
Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area under the Program for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (PSMNR) South West Region, a joint initiative between the Cameroon government and German Development Partners.
Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary is home to diverse wildlife, including chimpanzees, forest elephants, and over 322 species of birds. The sanctuary’s conservation efforts are crucial in protecting these species and their habitats.
