Environmental analysis news: Congo ecosystems boosted by Cameroon protection

A mountain and area of rainforest in the Congo Basin has been awarded protected status by the Cameroon government.

Mount Cameroon and the region surrounding it have been designated a national park, with more than 58,000 hectares of land being included in the new park.

The WWF has welcomed the announcement and commented that it will help animal and plant populations in the region recover from poaching and habitat destruction.

Atanga Ekobo, manger of the WWF Coastal Forest Project, which includes the area surrounding Mount Cameroon, was optimistic about the national park's future: "It will also encourage the sustainable use of natural resources by introducing and promoting alternative sources of income to the local communities."

According to the organisation, Mount Cameroon is an important refuge for wildlife, much of which is not found anywhere else in the world.

The United Nations has designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity and is running a number of conferences to raise awareness about the subject over the coming 12 months.

Posted by Claire Manning