Introduction Meeting of ASA Volunteers

29^th August 2012 (Wednesday)

1:00pm – 3:00pm

Location: Nguti Council Chamber     

Today we held our first meeting with the local communities of Nguti! We are so excited to get prepared: Marli and I presented our ASA-program and tried to explain with pictures ad flipcharts. We want to let the locals know who are we and what do we do during our 2.5 months stay in Nguti. The Mayor, DO (sub division officer) and agricultural delegate of the Nguti Sub-division all attended the meeting. We thought there might only be 10-20 people attend because of our short notice. Surprisingly, more than 30 participants were there and they are very interested in NC’s research project of The Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the focus area of our research. I was surprised that many people raised questions in the Q&A session and they concern about hot issues like how to sustain subsistence agriculture, the Nguti Saw Mill waste wood management problems and bush meat market/hunting poaching problems. Next blog I will write more about the sawmill problems.

1:00 – 1:05 p.m	Opening Prayer
1:05 – 1:10 p.m	Welcoming speech and introduction of Nature Cameroon team And ASA student volunteers
1:10 –1:15 p.m	Brief welcome by the Mayor
1:15 – 1:45 p.m	Part I: Presentation of Nature Cameroon By Mr. Ngwese Dominic, CEO, Nature Cameroon Ø   Foundation and mission Ø   Research results of WCS Ø   ASA project in Nguti Ø   Strategic plan axis Ø   Expectations and conclusions
1:45 – 2:00 p.m	Part II: Presentation of the ASA Programme By Marleen Stein and Louisa Wong
2:00 –2:15 p.m	Q & A Session Ø   Community expectations and concerns
2:15 –2:25 p.m	Closing remarks By Divisional Officer
2:25 –2:30 p.m	Group Photograph