Engaging rainforest communities in the protection and conservation of Long-tailed Pangolins

The first part of this project is the holistic integration of community mobilization for the protection of pangolins across the southwest region of Cameroon. The goal is to enlist the effective participation of poachers, local wildlife traders, and traditional authorities to strengthen community mechanisms to turn pangolin poachers into community pangolin conservators. The project has the long-term goal of working with 41 communities and expects to target five communities every 12 months to engage in alternative livelihood programs. Using cost-effective approaches, the project will focus on raising awareness on the importance of conserving and protecting pangolins. To do this, the program strategy will introduce community-level control mechanisms while assisting households in the promotion of alternative sources of income. The ultimate goal is to change behavior and reduce pressure on pangolins driven by illegal poaching and trade.