SDG 2 Food Security: Planting trees has reduce soil erosion and improve water retention resulting in more food production. Fruit trees have also been planted SDG 5 Gender equality: Women have received training that empower them on landscape management and promotion of agroforestry SDG7 Renewable energy: introduction of solar technologies and improve cook stoves have reduce the use of firewood and indoor air pollution. SDG 13 Climate change: Afforestation and tree planting are contribution to climate change mitigation (at least 15,000 ton of CO2 avoided) Food security: The project introduced the practice of agro-forestry that consisted in the planting of trees along boundaries while doing farming. Trees not only improve soil fertility but also reduce erosion. More farmers are now engaging into this practice as they see more benefice such as value addition from trees (fruits, firewood and timbers) Water security: More than 100 water catchment sources were secured and planted with trees.

RESILIENCE, ADAPTABILITY, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Planting trees in a farming areas is not an easy task. In fact community members used to clear trees for agriculture practices. Through awareness and sensitisation, some community members are now planting trees while other are still cutting down trees in their farms. But as the soil is becoming less fertile, more people in the community are asking for technical support to increase the yields. Initially, ACREST wanted to plan indigenous trees and rapid growing species. The community requested that only trees of direct value should be planted such as fruit trees, timber trees and medical trees. The project responded to this request by creating a nursery of useful trees. The project also introduce the grafting practices for rapid growing trees.

REDUCED INEQUALITIES

ACREST has been developing project in consultation with the communities. All social issues are taken into consideration during the project planning and implementation. This is to make sure that all aspects and issues such as inequalities and social inclusion are taken into consideration. Each community group has their agenda and expectations. The project use community consultation as one of the governance process. Women, youths and marginalize group are part and parcel of the implementation team. These group are involved in all level of decision making.

GENDER EQUALITY

All our activities put women at the center of the intervention. Following the successful implementation of previous ACREST project in the region with particular focus on protection and restauration of the Bamboutos mountain, ACREST together with Rainforest Alliance Cameroon and SAPED developed a joint project entitled "Women in COBALAM", funded by the European Union. This is a women in community led landscape management aiming at raising the standards of living of those who depend on Bamboutos mountain for their livelihoods, especially the women. The project empowered women with tools, equipment, hands-on trainings, to improve their working and living conditions. Clean cook stoves, water filters, solar dryers, juice extractors etc. were given to women for income generation and to reduce waterborne diseases. Women group were trained in agribusiness (how to manage little business) and on several technology process like food processing. Over 1000 people benefited from this project mainly women and girls.