Kedjom-Keku

Deforestation is one of the biggest challenges Earth is facing nowadays. It affects living conditions of local people but also the entire world as it contributes to global climate change. Kedjom-Keku is a non-governmental organization which was established in order to conserve and to renew the forest in the misty mountains in the northwest of Cameroon. Over decades, this forest has become increasingly threatened by unsustainable farming and grazing practices.

Being one of biodiversity hotspots, mountain misty forest belongs among areas with the largest species diversity and endemism in the world. Forest where Kedjom-Keku NGO is operating is home to one of the most endangered subspecies of chimpanzee in the world: Pan troglodytes ellioti. It is also one of the biggest water reservoirs in the Gulf of Guinea.

Our organization aims to stop the deforestation in the region through educating population in the mountain region of Abongphen where illiteracy rates reach up to 80%. That is why Mountain Misty School was built for the children of farmers where apart reading, writing and mathematics they learn also about the importance of the forest. Furthermore, we spread the awareness about sustainable farming methods and offer alternative ways of livelihood.

Kedjom-Keku NGO attempts not only to stop the deforestation but also to renew the original forest through tree-planting. Since five years of our presence, we have planted 5000 trees together with our students. Our organization follows activity of Ernest Vunan, Cameroonian from the village of the same name Kedjom-Keku (which is also known as Big Babanki), who has been planting trees for decades.