Evaluating the Effectiveness and Challenges of Wildlife Conservation Initiatives in the South West Region, Cameroon

Wildlife holds immense ecological, economic, cultural, and scientific significance worldwide, and scientists estimate that around 50% of Earth’s habitable land is still occupied by natural ecosystems that support wildlife, although this is rapidly declining due to human activities. The South West Region of Cameroon continues to face severe wildlife decrease, especially at a time when the conservation of wildlife is most essential. The major aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of wildlife conservation initiatives in the South West Region of Cameroon. This study was investigatory and explanatory in nature, employing a mixed method approach, involving the qualitative and quantitative techniques. 300 respondents were selected through a clustered random sampling technique. Primary data were obtained from them through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. These were complemented by secondary data obtained from published related articles, magazines, relevant literature and databases. Results revealed that the South West region harbours multiple species of wildlife which are of diverse significance. Further results unveil that wildlife species have been decreasing over the years caused by institutional, economic, social and natural factors. A trend emerged showing that wildlife conservation activities, such as wetlands restoration, creation of natural reserves, regulations and penalties implementation, have been carried out by interrelated bodies to the best of their ability. However, extinction and degradation continue at a galloping pace especially between 2003 and 2013. Analysis revealed that interwoven factors such as: poverty, limited collaborations, the claim of customary rights, climate change and subsistence farming are the underlying factors of wildlife decrease in the South west region. The study concluded that wildlife conservation remains a paramount significance of UN SDGs 14 and 15, which targeted life below water and on land, and recommended that timely, objective and holistic adaptation strategies such as: effective land use planning, sustained funding, reinforcement of conservation reserves, community engagement and improved monitoring should be implemented by the concerned conservation bodies in order to revitalised the state of wildlife in the South West Region of Cameroon.