AJESH research team at a training session BASECAMP London.
Professor BEATRICE AMBO FONGE ( Middle) of the Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, University OF Buea, leading the training team.
Minister of Environment and Nature Protection, Hele Pierre in chat with AJESH boss Harrison Ajebe Nnoko at their exhibition stands in Yaounde.
By Ngalame Elias
AJEMALEBU SELF HELP,AJESH in collaboration with the University of Buea have been promoting research training and the sustainable use of genetic resources in Cameroon. The project has seen the training of young researchers from the University of Buea thanks to support from BASECAMP, a UK based research institution.
According to Professor BEATRICE AMBO FONGE of the Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, the need to train young scientists in plant and soil research in Cameroon is capital.
“This capacity-building initiative is designed to enhance local expertise in biodiversity monitoring, management, and protection,” Professor Ambo said.
The AJESH team that was exhibiting their knowhow during the participation at the First National Forum of Genetic Resources, the 16th to the 17th of January 2025 at the National Museum Yaounde, presented their research training programme in collaboration with the University of Buea with support from BASECAMP.
The AJESH project under the theme,
“ Discovering and understanding the microbial diversity within Cameroon for sustainable commercial application in the life of science industry” is geared at promoting responsible business practices and environmental conservation.
Experts say training in research helps to bring science at the footsteps of the local communities. It is against this backdrop that AJESH and the University of Buea have focused on soil science research.
“One of the areas we focus on is soil. We use specific molecular technique to detect the variation in bacterial community structures of a given soil,” Professor Ambo said.
After multivariate analysis, we can then detect distinct microbial communities, she notes.
“ It’s a challenging task but we have to forge ahead and with much determination we will provide the best results,” she said.
BASECAMP Collaborates with AJESH, Cameroon Gov’t.
According to a Press Release, Basecamp Research has partnered with AJESH, a non-profit organization in Cameroon focused on biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation. Together, they aim to foster equitable collaboration between local communities and scientific research activities, contributing to the preservation of Cameroon’s rich biodiversity.
Dr. Aurélie Taylor Patience Dingom, who spearheaded the establishment of Cameroon’s ABS legal framework, emphasized the significance of the agreement:
“Cameroon is proud to be a trailblazer with this partnership centered around the use of Digital Sequence Information (DSI). It recognizes DSI as a crucial element in the development and the equitable sharing of financial benefits within the access and benefit-sharing framework.”
Bupe Mwambingu, Basecamp Research’s Biodiversity Partnerships Manager, highlighted the collaborative nature of the partnership:
“This partnership is the result of nearly two years of listening to, and working with, the Cameroonian government, NGOs, and grassroots community members. It sets a new standard for promoting fair and ethical practices in the commercialization of genetic resources.”
Basecamp Research has already distributed its first wave of royalties to 37 communities and organizations in 13 countries. These payments were derived from revenues generated through the use of its extensive biodiversity database, which supports projects ranging from enzyme design for plastic biodegradation to the development of environmentally friendly industrial processes, the release stated.
Yaounde Forum to Enhance Conservation, sustainable use of genetic resources.
The forum in Yaounde took place under the theme, “Unveiling the hidden treasure of Cameroon’s genetic resources”.
According to the Minister of Environment and Nature protection who presided over the ceremony, the forum seeks to unite stakeholders to advance the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge by; raising awareness about the importance of preserving genetic resources and promoting traditional knowledge systems, exploring mechanisms to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of these resources, as well as create a collaborative platform for researchers and private sector actors to foster innovation and maximize the potential of Cameroon’s genetic resources.
The National Forum also saw the signing of an agreement between the international firm BASECAMP Research and the government of Cameroon, through the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Protection, through four communities for the exploitation of genetic resources.
The ceremony was highlighted by a tour of the exhibition stands of the different research and traditional medicine experts present at the ceremony.
According to Dr Aurélie Dingom Taylor, APA Focal Point/Inspector No. 2 Minepded and project manager of this scientific event, Universities and research institutes, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, local communities and cooperatives, have all shown their know-how. A variety of products and innovations from genetic resources were exhibited. The University of Ngaoundere, Dschang, University of Buea, all answered present.
According AJESH CEO the training programme is well on course.
“ The collaboration with the University of Buea to train young researchers in genetic resources has been moving on smoothly,” Harrison Ajebe Nnoko says.
AJESH stands at the Yaounde forum.
