Community-led Conservation in Cameroon.
Country
Cameroon
Project Date
2015
Project Overview
In 2015, Rainforest Connection (RFCx) expanded its acoustic monitoring technology to Cameroon, partnering with local communities to combat illegal logging and poaching in the country’s rainforests. This initiative empowered residents with real-time detection tools to protect their environment.
Implementation details
Guardian devices successfully identified illegal logging and poaching incidents. In one case, authorities confiscated a monkey carcass and a motorbike from a poacher, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in real-time threat detection. By involving local communities in monitoring efforts, the project fostered environmental stewardship, giving residents the tools to actively protect their forests.
Project Outcomes
RFCx deployed solar-powered acoustic monitoring devices ("Guardians")—repurposed from old smartphones—high in the tree canopy to capture continuous ambient sounds. The system was programmed to detect sounds linked to illegal activities, such as chainsaws, indicating unauthorized logging or gunshots,and signaling poaching activities. When these sounds were detected, real-time alerts were sent to local authorities and community patrols, enabling swift intervention.