Czech media house Aktualne.cz interviewed me (part 1): “ As long as nobody believes and sees that you live under the same conditions, eating the same food, sharing joy and worries, it's hard to make a positive change for all.”

Massive deforestation is a problem in many areas on the planet, why did you choose the forest of Kedjom-Keku in Cameroon?

It was actually just a coincidence that I got involved with the Abongphen Highland Forest in Kedjom-Keku. When I began to study biology at the Faculty of Sciences (Charles University in Prague CZ) I never thought about going to Africa but during the first year of my studies I became acquainted with a team of scientists who have been studying birds, mammals, insects and the forest in general for several years in Cameroon. I went with them to Cameroon, to Kedjom-Keku in 2008 for my first expedition. This experience brought me to the idea of settling down to focus on saving the forest.

What is the uniqueness of the so-called misty mountain forest?

The Abongphen Highland Forest (misty mountain type) is located in the Bamenda Highlands in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. This area is listed among the so-called biodiversity hotspots, currently 38 worldwide, and should have top priority of protection. These biotopes must meet three conditions to be qualified as such:

1. At least 90% of the biotope has to be destroyed. In the case of the forest of Bamenda Highlands, this condition has been exceeded several times. Currently, the forest covers only 2% of the original area.
2. The area must inhabit a high proportion of various endemic species. Simply said, those species that we do not find elsewhere in the world. Here we can find hundreds of species like the beautiful birds Tauraco bannermani and Platisteira laticincta.
3. The area must offer a home to a large number of endangered species including the most threatened ones like chimpanzee Pan troglodytes ellioti.
   Additionally, the mountain forest is one of the most important reservoir of drinking water, which has been significantly reduced (up to 80%) over the last 50 years and is also highly polluted by chemicals used for farming and by feces from the pastures.

How long have you been living in Cameroon and how often do you travel to Czech Republic?

Since 2012, when we built the Misty Mountain School in Abongphen (montane quarter of Kedjom-Keku village), I consider myself a resident of Cameroon. In the last five years I have travelled to Czech Republic three times, shortening the length of my stay with each time. As an environmentalist I try to limit my number of flights. Cumulatively, up to now I spent five years in Africa.

I heard you asked for Cameroon citizenship. Have you got it yet?

I have not yet asked for citizenship of Cameroon, I was just discovering the conditions to obtain it. Since the law changed recently, I can have a dual citizenship. Now after two years I got my residence permit extended for another five years. Afterwards I can get the Cameroon citizenship. However, in Cameroon, nothing is ever sure. Meanwhile, I'm satisfied with the residence permit. No need to rush.

How did the locals react when a blonde white European wanted to help them?

About my look: My hair only gets blond during the dry season when the sun is shining.
I would say they reacted in two different ways. First of all, all non-Africans are considered to be the providers of resources and assistance and are therefore automatically expected to do so. No wonder. This is how Western and Eastern tourists, travelers, humanitarian workers and nature conservationists have taught Africans and they are still continuing to do so. I personally know a few people (Czechs) who are not afraid of giving away almost everything to Africa and they even brag about it. This attitude makes our work harder because we simply do not give things away for free but with a more sustainable approach including education, traineeship and follow ups. Giving everything for free, with the intention of helping, without any activation supports the local view that receiving is a part of their culture. And if you want to fight it you will see some angry faces because local traditions and culture are not changing just like that. As far as nature conservation is concerned, the situation is still much more complicated. In addition, helping local people to improve their living conditions (by investing rather than giving away), we also tell them what to do, and especially what they should change and of course, they are not happy with it. Who actually likes to change their habits, right? To come back to our topic, giving an example from the forest conservation, the change that needs time to have a visual outcome cannot be implemented and convince the local community as easy as a change with an immediate outcome, speaking for agriculture, for example using pesticides and inorganic fertilizer.
Our way of thinking differs from the one here in Cameroon. You need to adapt yourself to see their ways and especially when trying to understand their mentality. And that's not always easy. I believe that the only way to reach our goal to save the forest is in collaboration with the locals through a good relation, and understanding and a coexistence with them. As long as nobody believes and sees that you live under the same conditions, eating the same food, sharing joy and worries, it's hard to make a positive change for all. I can not imagine that the “white man” manages to persuade the majority, even though he would live with them. Even though it is necessary to reach and convince some locals, the main change is done by the local communities while they share their obtained knowledge and beliefs through their own channels that a foreigner cannot reach.

Are you the project coordinator of the Kedjom-Keku project? When and how was the NGO founded?

The Kedjom-Keku association was founded in 2010 after my second scientific expedition to Cameroon, when I promised local shepherds and farmers that I would build a primary school for their children in the mountains within the next two years. During that time I did not have the slightest idea in which direction our activities would take us. Just one thing was clear for me, our goal is to save and restore the mountain forests in Kedjom-Keku. It was not well thought through and maybe even a risky step. Today I would do things differently. But who does not take the risk cannot gain anything. I am talking about the risk mainly because after these years I think that we are the greatest threat to sustainable development and protection of nature. We, as the so-called “white men” and our fateful conviction as developed countries, the only ones being able to save those developing countries. It is probably the case (in the end), but it is about the approach we choose (see the previous answer why). One should reflect about who is partly responsible and to blame for the actual situation of colonized countries like Cameroon and who bears the burden in the end.

Continue tomorrow…

Note: The interview was held and processed by journalist of www.aktualne.cz Magdaléna Daňková

Check out my indtroduction post HERE!

For Czech reading Steemians HERE!

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