Unchecked development threatens Cameroon’s Manyange Na Elombo-Campo marine park – Global Voices

Assessment of Marine Conservation and Sustainable Development in Ebodje, Cameroon

Introduction: Community Livelihoods and Cultural Heritage

The community of Ebodje, located in the South region of Cameroon, presents a critical case study on the intersection of traditional livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and industrial development. This report analyzes the challenges and opportunities facing the region, with a specific focus on its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Economic Dependence: Approximately 80 percent of the Iyassa people in Ebodje depend on artisanal fishing and subsistence agriculture. This reliance directly relates to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), as the sustainability of marine resources is fundamental to their economic survival.
• Cultural Significance: The Iyassa community holds sacred cultural links to marine life, including sea turtles and water spirits (‘Mengu’). The protection of these species and sacred sites, such as Manyange-Turtle and Elombo-Wolf-Rocks, is integral to preserving their heritage, aligning with SDG 11.4 (Protect cultural and natural heritage).

National Conservation Commitments and the Manyange Na Elombo Campo MPA

Cameroon has demonstrated a commitment to global conservation targets, which is pivotal for achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Cameroon’s Role in the Global Biodiversity Framework

• 30×30 Target: As a signatory to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Cameroon has pledged to help safeguard 30 percent of the Earth’s natural areas by 2030.
• Marine Protection Progress: As of 2025, Cameroon has protected 11.1 percent of its marine areas. The establishment of the Manyange Na Elombo Campo Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a key component of this strategy, directly contributing to SDG 14.5 (Conserve coastal and marine areas).

Governance and Management Challenges of the MPA

Despite its designation, the MPA faces significant governance and implementation challenges that threaten its effectiveness and undermine progress towards the SDGs.

1. Lack of Scientific Basis: Experts report that the MPA was designated without foundational scientific research to inform its boundaries or management priorities.
2. Absence of a Management Plan: The protected area was created without a publicly available management plan, contrary to established MPA guidelines.
3. Insufficient Community Consultation: A significant portion of the local community remains unaware of the MPA’s mission and its potential impact on their livelihoods, indicating a failure in participatory governance essential for sustainable development.

Threats to Marine Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goals

The integrity of the Manyange Na Elombo Campo MPA and the surrounding ecosystem is under severe threat from encroaching industrial activities, creating a direct conflict between economic development and environmental sustainability.

Impact of Industrial Projects on SDG 14

• Kribi Deep Seaport (22.9 km away): Port construction has led to coastal erosion, destroying marine turtle nesting sites. Noise and light pollution from port operations and ship traffic further disrupt marine ecosystems.
• Sinosteel Cam SA Iron Project: The project’s Environmental Impact Assessment indicates that dust containing heavy metals could be deposited into the marine park. Water used for washing minerals, drawn from the Lobe River, poses a significant pollution risk.
• Perenco Liquefied Gas Plant (68.5 km away): The presence of this offshore facility may be linked to petroleum residue found within the MPA.
• Camvert Palm Oil Plantations (33.2 km away): Runoff of fertilizers and pesticides from these plantations is likely to enter the marine ecosystem via river systems.

Consequences for SDG Attainment

These industrial pressures create a cascade of negative impacts that jeopardize multiple SDGs.

1. Undermining SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The combined effects of habitat destruction, pollution (plastic, chemical, noise), and coastal erosion directly contradict the objectives of SDG 14.1 (Reduce marine pollution) and SDG 14.2 (Protect and restore ecosystems).
2. Threatening SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The degradation of fish stocks and the marine environment poses a direct threat to the livelihoods of the Ebodje fishing community.
3. Violating SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Unchecked development that damages protected habitats violates Cameroon’s commitments to international conservation agreements, including CITES and the Bonn Convention.

Conclusion: Reconciling Development and Conservation

Stakeholder Responses and Future Outlook

There is a clear disconnect between the government’s conservation commitments and its development agenda. While the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) is reportedly developing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kribi port to mitigate negative impacts, experts remain skeptical, noting that a comprehensive management plan for the MPA has been ignored. Without robust governance and enforcement, Cameroon risks sabotaging its long-term sustainability goals and its contributions to the global effort to protect marine biodiversity. Achieving a sustainable future requires that industrial development be fully aligned with the principles of the SDGs, ensuring that environmental protection and community well-being are not compromised for short-term economic gain.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This is the central SDG addressed in the article. The entire text revolves around the establishment, management, and threats to the Manyange Na Elombo Campo Marine Protected Area (MPA). It discusses the conservation of marine biodiversity (turtles, whales, dolphins), the challenges of overfishing, and the impact of marine pollution from industrial activities.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article highlights the economic reliance of the Ebodje community on marine resources. It states that “Around 80 percent of the Iyassa people of Ebodje… work in this profession [fishing].” The MPA’s objectives include improving local incomes through sustainable artisanal fishing and ecotourism, directly linking conservation efforts to local economic well-being.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article connects land-based activities to marine ecosystem health. Threats to the MPA originate from terrestrial sources, including the Kribi deep seaport causing coastal erosion, the Sinosteel iron project potentially releasing heavy metal dust, and Camvert’s palm oil plantations using fertilizers and pesticides that can run off into the sea. This demonstrates the interconnectedness of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article touches upon the cultural heritage of the Iyassa people, which is deeply intertwined with the marine environment. It mentions their “sacred link with water beings called ‘Mengu’ (mami wata) and the sea turtle” and the sacred sites from which the MPA derives its name. The impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on this local community and its heritage is a key theme.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article discusses the role of various stakeholders, including the Cameroonian government (MINFOF), local communities, NGOs (Tube Awu), international experts, and private companies (Kribi deep seaport, Sinosteel). It points to the need for effective partnerships and policy coherence, as seen in the mention of a potential MoU between the government and the port to mitigate negative impacts, and the criticism of the lack of consultation with locals during the MPA’s creation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities. This is relevant due to the threats of pollution from the Kribi deep seaport (light, noise), the Sinosteel project (dust with heavy metals), Camvert (fertilizers, pesticides), and Perenco (petroleum residue).
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The creation and management of the Manyange Na Elombo Campo MPA is a direct attempt to achieve this target, though the article questions its effectiveness.
   • Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas. The article explicitly mentions this, stating “Cameroon has protected 11.1 percent of its marine areas” and its commitment to the global “30 by 30” target, which is an extension of this goal.
   • Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology. The article criticizes that the MPA was designated without being “based on any scientific research” and notes the need to measure the impact of noise pollution on marine life, highlighting a gap in scientific knowledge.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The MPA’s objective to “promote potential sources of income through the development of ecotourism” directly aligns with this target.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The article’s focus on protecting endangered marine species like turtles, which have nesting sites on the coast, connects to this target.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The protection of the “Manyange-Turtle and Elombo-Wolf-Rocks, sacred sites of the Iyassa people” is a direct action towards safeguarding cultural heritage.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The conflict between the government’s conservation goals (creating an MPA) and its development goals (approving industrial projects that threaten the MPA) illustrates a lack of policy coherence.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 14.5:

  The article provides a direct quantitative indicator: “As of 2025, Cameroon has protected 11.1 percent of its marine areas.” This measures progress towards Indicator 14.5.1 (Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas). The commitment to the “30 percent… by 2030” goal is also a clear target indicator.

• Indicators for Target 14.2:

  A qualitative indicator of ecosystem degradation is mentioned: “the coast has retreated by around fifteen meters in several places,” which points to significant coastal erosion. The presence of endangered species like turtles, whales, and dolphins serves as an indicator of the area’s biodiversity value that needs protection.

• Indicators for Target 14.1:

  The article implies indicators of pollution by naming specific threats. The presence of “light and noise pollution,” “dust, which is composed of heavy metals,” “fertilizers and pesticides,” and “petroleum residue” can be monitored and measured to track progress in reducing marine pollution.

• Indicator for Target 8.9:

  The statistic that “80 percent of the Iyassa people of Ebodje… work in this profession [fishing]” serves as a baseline indicator for the local economy’s dependence on marine resources. A shift towards jobs in ecotourism could be a future measure of progress.

• Indicator for Target 14.a:

  The article implies an indicator through its absence: the lack of a “publicly available management plan” for the MPA. The development and implementation of a science-based management plan would be a key indicator of progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: globalvoices.org