By Bakah Derick
As the dry begins in Cameroon, concerns over the return of bushfires are on the increase. Areas of the Kilum-Ijim forest Bikov, Atumekui, Belo, Abassakom, Oku and Njinikom and other protected areas mostly affected by bushfires are in risk of being consumed again if nothing is done. In this edition of our No to Bushfires series, we talked to our environmental protection consultant Wirsiy Emmanuel Binyuy Apiculture and Nature Conservation Campaigner, Director of Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch (CAMGEW) on the best practices to prevent and manage bushfires
"Summarily, Fire tracing and back burning, patrols, sensitization against bushfires, communicating on various punishment that awaits defaulters, Developing of agroforestry systems in farms around forest peripheries, Green Firebreaks that separate the forest from the farms with evergreen vegetation, Ban of smoking in the forest and farms around the forest are some of the easy things we can to prevent.
The CAMGEW director advises farmers, communities and stakeholders to acquire training on bushfire management techniques, to use the fire suppression techniques (Confine, Contain or Control Strategies), Fire line Safety and First Aid, designate or appoint fire Volunteers, to use water to quench the fire when it starts, to continuously monitor fires etc as some of the best ways to manage the the bushfires" Emmanuel Binyuy said.
These actions to prevent and manage bushfires can be effective and sustainable if engaged as a community.
Sponsored by the GEF Small Grant Program under the project titled “Eco-friendly Bushfire Prevention and Management in Kilum-Ijim forest” sensitization are intensifying to ensure bushfires are reduced or stooped this season.