WHO WE ARE
The Environment and Community Development Association (ECoDAs) is a registered grassroots not-for-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO) which aims to advance efforts for nature conservation and sustainable development in Cameroon, with a focus on protecting threatened species from extinction, protecting and restoring fragile ecosystems, driving nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change while contributing to improving the livelihood of forest-dependent communities. ECoDAs believes conservation needs to encompass protection or restoration of complete ecosystems, and the involvement of local people through conservation education, capacity-building and development of livelihood options. Our efforts therefore go far beyond a single species, and benefit biodiversity and communities as a whole. ECoDAs’ niche developed over the years are; co-management of key conservation sites, habitat restoration, conservation education, community involvement, capacity building for stakeholders, and development of livelihood options in order to protect and conserve biodiversity along with people. Its goal is to effect conservation of biological resources and fragile environments through active community involvement – conserving with people. We, together with like-minded national and international partners, deliver on our conservation and development priorities for a healthier planet and sustainable future for all.
VISION
“A Cameroon where communities prosper while living in harmony with nature”
This vision includes rich, healthy and productive ecosystems actively managed and sustainably used by local communities for the wellbeing of people and wildlife. It also features adaptive people and resilient ecosystems able to cope with climate change.
MISSION
“ECoDAs seeks to advance community-based, sustainable solutions that conserve biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of the poorest of the poor while bolstering socio-economic development and addressing climate change”.
ECoDAs is a formidable association of experienced professionals and its multidisciplinary team consists of professionals in the fields of natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, ecological and social assessment, environmental education and capacity building, environmental impact assessment with a lot of experience in livelihood and community development. We are helping humans and nature prosper together.
Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.
Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.
Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance.
If we’re destroying our trees and destroying our environment and hurting animals and hurting one another and all that stuff, there’s got to be a very powerful energy to fight that. I think we need more love in the world. We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.
We need your help! YOU can protect wildlife while empowering local people.