Rare amphibian and plant species found only in the ancient cloud forests of Cameroon face extinction due to unregulated land clearing, logging, and poaching.
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Species at Risk
Smooth Egg-guarding Frog (CR), Tandy’s Smalltongue Toad (CR), Cameroon Wolterstorff Toad (CR), African Forest Elephant (CR), Chimpanzee (EN), Rumpi Mouse Shrew (EN)
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Carbon stored
25,568,556 mT*
*(metric tons of CO2 equivalents) -
Partner
AJEMALEBU
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106,900 Proposed Acres Conserved by
Designation
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Project Cost: $1,503,001
106,900
Rare amphibian and plant species found only in the ancient cloud forests of Cameroon face extinction due to unregulated land clearing, logging, and poaching.
-
Species at Risk
Smooth Egg-guarding Frog (CR), Tandy’s Smalltongue Toad (CR), Cameroon Wolterstorff Toad (CR), African Forest Elephant (CR), Chimpanzee (EN), Rumpi Mouse Shrew (EN)
-
Carbon stored
25,568,556 mT*
*(metric tons of CO2 equivalents) -
Partner
AJEMALEBU
-
106,900 Proposed Acres Conserved by
Designation
-
Project Cost: £1,192,857
106,900
DID YOU KNOW?
The rare cloud forest tree Microcos rumpi can grow to a height of 130 feet.
A chain of volcanoes stretching 1,000 miles from Annobón Island in the Gulf of Guinea inland to the Cameroon Highlands hosts some of western Africa’s oldest montane, evergreen, and cloud forests, including an extremely important, biodiverse region in the Rumpi Hills of Mount Rata. This area receives heavy rains and supports rare amphibian and plant species found nowhere else in the world.
The presence of the Critically Endangered Smooth Egg-guarding Frog, Tandy’s Smalltongue Toad, and Cameroon Wolterstorff Toad highlight the importance of this region for rare amphibians. The forests are also home to Critically Endangered African Forest Elephants, Endangered Chimpanzees, and various antelope species. The rich biodiversity is threatened by increased land clearing for commercial and subsistence agriculture, illegal timber exploitation, and poaching.
Rainforest Trust and our partner, AJEMALEBU Self Help (Ajemalebu meaning “Nature’s Gift for Man”), will support a project to merge and upgrade two contiguous Forest Reserves here in the mountains into one National Park called Rumpi Rata National Park.
Explore the proposed Rumpi Rata National Park
Tandy's Smalltongue Toad, by David C. Blackburn
Ursula's Sunbird, by Agami Photo Agency
African Forest Elephant, by Ondrej Prosicky
West African Baby Chimpanzee, by Photosybpatrik
Fortify Protection of Important Afromontane Habitat in Cameroon
In Cameroon, Forest Reserves were historically set aside for logging. This relatively low level of protection, combined with an absence of law enforcement and unregulated access, has already led to deforestation and poaching. This project represents the first opportunity to put into practice newly adopted national guidelines meant to ensure local communities and Indigenous Peoples are fully informed and consent to the creation of the new National Park and its management plans, and are supported in strengthening and diversifying sustainable livelihoods.
Rumpi Rata National Park will create a safe haven for some of the world’s most threatened mammals. The contiguous habitat is expected to serve as a key eco-corridor to neighboring Korup National Park and reduce human-wildlife conflicts for migrating forest elephants.
Save a Rare, Endemic Cloud Forest Tree Species
The Rumpi Hills region has exceptionally high numbers of threatened tree species thought to exist nowhere else in the world. In 2022, Kew Royal Botanic Garden described one such tree and assessed it as critically endangered—a massive cloud forest tree named Microcos rumpi that can grow to 115 to 130 feet high and 30 inches in diameter.
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Project Modifications
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Partnering to Save Rainforest
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