Alliance Members
Environment & Rural Development Foundation
Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) is a Cameroon-based non-profit organization dedicated to biodiversity conservation and community development across Cameroon’s forested landscapes. Founded in 2000, ERuDeF focuses on habitat protection, environmental education, sustainable livelihoods, and community empowerment to safeguard critical ecosystems.
ERuDeF’s work with Cross River gorillas is concentrated in the Western Highlands, a mountainous and forested region in south-western Cameroon, stretching roughly from Mount Cameroon on the coast northeastwards into the interior, including areas like Lebialem, Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, Mount Bamboutos, and Mount Oku. The organization strengthens local governance for community forests, implements anti-poaching and wildlife monitoring initiatives, and conducts awareness campaigns to mitigate hunting, deforestation, and human-wildlife conflicts. ERuDeF actively collaborates with traditional councils, Village Forest Management Committees (VFMCs), women’s groups, and youth networks to ensure that conservation strategies are community-led and culturally sensitive.
Through these efforts, ERuDeF protects the remaining Cross River gorilla populations, restores degraded habitats, and promotes coexistence between wildlife and local communities, contributing to the long-term conservation of this critically endangered species.
CEPOW Cameroon
CEPOW Cameroon is a Cameroon-based non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting endangered species and advancing community-led conservation across the Western Highlands and the Cross River landscape. Founded in 2017, CEPOW focuses on habitat protection, environmental education, regenerative agriculture, and community empowerment to reduce pressures on critical biodiversity areas.
CEPOW’s work with Cross River gorillas centers on the Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary and surrounding community forests. The organization supports local governance structures, promotes sustainable livelihoods, and leads awareness campaigns to reduce hunting, deforestation, human disturbance, and wildlife conflicts. CEPOW collaborates closely with traditional councils, Village Forest Management Committees (VFMCs), women’s groups, and youth networks to foster strong, community-owned conservation initiatives.
Through this grassroots approach, CEPOW contributes to safeguarding the remaining Cross River gorilla population by strengthening community stewardship, restoring degraded forests, and promoting long-term coexistence between people and wildlife.
African Conservation Foundation
African Conservation Foundation (ACF) is a pan-African non-profit organization dedicated to biodiversity conservation, capacity building, and sustainable development across the continent. ACF supports local communities, conservation professionals, and civil society organizations through training, knowledge exchange, and institutional strengthening, empowering stakeholders to lead effective conservation initiatives.
In the Cross River gorilla landscape, ACF focuses on enhancing local conservation capacity by providing technical training, workshops, and hands-on education for community members, park staff, and civil society actors. The organization introduces advanced spatial conservation technologies, including camera traps, GIS mapping, and AI-supported wildlife monitoring systems, to improve species and habitat management. ACF works closely with traditional councils, community forest committees, women’s groups, and youth networks, fostering locally-led conservation solutions that reduce human-wildlife conflict, strengthen forest stewardship, and ensure long-term protection of critical biodiversity, including the critically endangered Cross River gorilla