🌳 GEF 7 PROJECT: AAFEBEN takes stock of its support 🌳

🗓️ From 11 to 19 February 2026, AAFEBEN travelled through the municipalities of Mintom, Ngoyla and Lomié on an extensive mission to report on the activities already carried out up to 2025.

Written on Monday, February 23, 2026

🌍 As part of the project ‘Integrated Management of Forest Landscapes in Cameroon in the Congo Basin,’ this tour provided an opportunity to present an assessment of the activities carried out with local and indigenous communities.

🤝 The AAFEBEN team and the GEF representative gave their presentations to a panel of institutional and sectoral stakeholders (sub-prefects, mayors, MINFOF, MINAS, MINADER) and the communities benefiting from the project.

🗣️ One of the highlights of these workshops was the testimony of Ms Nyangono Matilde from the EXPFNL cooperative in Mintom, who highlighted the concrete impact of the income generated by the sale of NTFPs on improving living conditions: "I would like to thank AAFEBEN for all the training provided. It taught us how to save money to carry out projects. After collecting and selling wild mangoes, I saved money that enabled me to start building a small house with two bedrooms and a living room. Although it is not yet finished, it provides us with shelter from the elements, as for the past three years I have been sleeping under the stars and cooking outdoors."

💬 Through group work, frank and constructive exchanges enabled us to discuss the operational challenges encountered in the field in order to outline solutions agreed upon with the public authorities and communities. (This document of recommendations will be shared with you at a later date).

🚀 By closing these meetings with the presentation of its 2026 action plan, AAFEBEN reaffirms its commitment to sustainable forest governance and the economic empowerment of local communities 🌱.