Community Life around Protected Areas in Cameroon: Conservation Story of Erat and the Resettlement Communities around the Korup National Park

Abstract

Current trend in the use or misuse of environmental resources raises strong sustainability issues and the need for preservation. But, should the environment be preserved at the expense of mankind? If the term ‘sustainability’ means the total subjection of the present generation to hardship and misery in favour of the wild (nature), then, ‘sustainability’ is not sustainable. This paper investigates into the quality of life of the Erat and the Resettlement community, formerly known as Ikondo Ikondo I of the South West Region of Cameroon using survey and retrospective designs. In reporting the untold conservation story of the two communities around the Korup National Park (KNP), primary data was collected from 180 participants using 5 point Likert scale questionnaire, and analyzed using the Taylor Linearized Standard Error Correction Technique. The result supports the hypothesis that wild nature is more ‘valuable’ than humans around the KNP as the population continues to be deliberately or otherwise subjected to hardship and misery. With an overall significant result tested using the Fisher’s ratio, and while calling on the authorities to adopt measures that reduce poverty and provide social services and justice, the paper strongly advocates for a drastic shift from fortress to man-centred conservation. It is completely unacceptable that in the 21 st Century in Africa, man should be sacrificed for wild nature, no matter what, as he can conveniently live with nature. To achieve this global goal, conservation authorities should report the real impact of their activities.