Unchecked development threatens Cameroon's Manyange Na Elombo Campo Marine Park

• Cameroon’s Manyange Na Elombo Campo Marine Protected Area (MPA) is facing severe threats from industrial development and environmental pollution.
• The 110,300-hectare park serves as the ancestral fishing ground for the Iyassa people and provides essential habitat for endangered marine life, including sea turtles, whales, and dolphins.
• Critics argue the government designated the MPA without adequate scientific research or a clear management plan, leaving local communities uncertain about their future livelihoods.

Major Industrial Threats

• Kribi Deep Seaport: Constructed by China Harbor Engineering Company (CCCC), the port has accelerated coastal erosion and created significant light and noise pollution, disrupting marine ecosystems.
• Sinosteel Iron Project: Concerns exist that processing operations will release heavy-metal-laden dust and contaminate the marine park through water discharge from the Lobe River.
• Perenco and Camvert: Offshore gas extraction and palm oil plantations contribute risks of petroleum residue and agricultural chemical runoff, respectively.

Governance and Conservation Challenges

• While Cameroon aims to meet international '30x30' biodiversity targets by 2030, experts argue that existing MPA governance is inadequate and largely ignores the proposed management plans developed by NGOs.
• Local residents of Ebodje express fear that the park may eventually restrict their traditional fishing rights without providing alternative economic support.
• The Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) claims it is pursuing an MoU with industrial operators to mitigate damage, though conservationists remain skeptical about the lack of concrete, science-based policy implementation.