Ananfack Kenfack Gilles Rolin
This research and conservation project aims to safeguard Coffea rizetiana, a critically endangered wild coffee species endemic to South-West Cameroon and considered likely extinct in the wild. Once known from a single locality near the Mouyouka-Kompina Forest Reserve, this species now survives only in ex-situ collections in Europe. Threatened by habitat loss, agricultural expansion, and climate change, C. rizetiana faces an uncertain future without urgent and collaborative conservation action.
The project adopts a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ecological research, local knowledge, and community-based agroforestry. It is structured around three core objectives: (1) to conduct field surveys in its historical range in search of possible relict populations; (2) to document traditional knowledge related to C. rizetiana and other local coffee species through community interviews; and (3) to assess the potential for reintroduction through sustainable agroforestry systems, in collaboration with custodians of ex-situ germplasm.
Planned activities include ecological assessments, soil and microclimate analyses, population monitoring, and participatory mapping of potential reintroduction sites within the Mouyouka-Kompina Forest Reserve. Although this forest is not formally protected, it is a key biodiversity hotspot hosting many endemic and threatened species. Restoration efforts will focus on degraded zones suitable for agroforestry-based reintroduction of the species.
Community engagement is central to the project’s strategy. Local farmers, indigenous groups, and youth will be trained in sustainable agroforestry practices, including shade-grown coffee cultivation, to promote livelihoods aligned with conservation. Demonstration plots will be established, and community-based monitoring systems developed to track progress and reinforce stewardship.
The project will also conduct awareness campaigns through schools, radio broadcasts, and coffee festivals to highlight the cultural and ecological value of Cameroon’s wild coffee heritage. In doing so, it aims to foster a sense of pride and conservation ethic among local populations.
Expected outcomes include improved knowledge of the species' current status, the identification of viable reintroduction sites, recommendations for conservation authorities, and the production of baseline data to support a future IUCN Red List reassessment. Ultimately, this initiative will lay the groundwork for a participatory and sustainable conservation model, reconnecting science, tradition, and community action to rescue this forgotten species from the brink of extinction.