A veteran Cameroonian activist, who works to preserve Cameroon’s forests and improve lives of those who depend upon them, has been awarded the UN-backed international environment prize.
Cécile Ndjebet is the recipient of the 2022 Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), which is chaired by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Ms. Ndjebet was presented the award at a ceremony held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, during XV World Forestry Congress.
A voice for equality
“This award celebrates Cécile Ndjebet’s energy and dedication over three decades in promoting women’s rights to land and forests. Maria Helena Semedo is FAO Deputy General Director-General and Chair of the CPF. It consists of 15 international organizations.
Ms. Ndjebet co-founded the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests in 2009. It was established by Ms. Ndjebet in 2009. The network now has 20 member countries.
She has been a leading voice both in her home country and internationally on the importance to be aware of the importance of Gender equality in forest management.
Promoting women’s involvement
Cameroon’s women account for 70% of all rural dwellers. They rely on the harvesting of wild forest products for their livelihoods.
However, some communities prohibit women from owning forest land, heirloom it if their husbands die, or even planting trees on the degraded land.
Ms. Ndjebet has tirelessly supported the concept Women should be included in forest management and have equal access to forest land and forest resources.. Not only are forests more well-maintained, but whole communities also benefit.
She stated that men are generally aware of the importance of women in improving families’ living standard. “But they must also agree that women must have access to land and forests in order to continue to play this role and even improve on it.”
FAO stated that the activist had been a driving force behind the implementation of forestry law in Cameroon and good governance in Cameroon. She also established a new approach to community forestry and the restoration degraded lands and forests through Cameroon Ecology (Cam-Eco), two decades ago.
The organization aims to educate, train, and support women to understand sustainability issues as well as to get involved with forest conservation and restoration.
Forest champions are honoured
The Forest Champions Award is named after Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, who was also a UN Messenger of Peace.
In her memory, the CPF created the award in 2012 to honor inspiring people who have helped to preserve, restore, and manage forests.
Ms. Ndjebet had a meeting with Ms. Maathai, who encouraged her in her efforts to support women planting trees.
Previous Wangari Maathai Forest Champion Award winners include Nepalese community forestry movement leader, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Mexican environmental campaigner, Martha Isabel ‘Pati’ Ruiz Corzo, and Burundian forestry activist Léonidas Nzigiyimpa.
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