Transforming Lives Through Water: A New Hope for Faro National Park
Young boy pushing a barrel of water from the Rural resource Center in Tchamba
Hauoa Laraba stands infront of her kitchen in tchamba, Faro Landscape
40- year- old Haoua Laraba sits outside her house in Tchamba Village, remembering a time when her days would start with a one-kilometre walk to fetch water from a nearby stream way before sunrise. By the time she walks back, the sun would be up in the sky, and the heat sweltering.
The stream, which ran through her village under temperatures known to reach highs of 44°C (111°F), was the only source of water close by. Here she would, in the darkness of early morning, fill a 50-litre container and head back home.
"Sometimes, after walking all that distance, I would find no water in the stream or the water would be too dirty to use. My children would go to school late or even miss classes when this happens," Laraba recalls, visibly weighed down by memories of exhaustion and despair.
A Future Where Both People and Nature Thrive
Tchamba is one of 138 villages located in Cameroon’s Northern Region. This landscape is known for its park, which is home to over 40 wildlife species. The region has long grappled with water shortages, forcing villagers and herders in search of water for their households and livestock. Leading cattle rearers into the park, thereby increasing over transhumance (cross- border cattle herding) within the protected area.
This acute water scarcity that plagued communities, particularly those living near Faro National Park (FNP) for years, prompted the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) to come to the communities’ rescue, with funding from the European Union.
Working with local communities, AWF helped establish a Rural Resource Center in Tchamba village, integrated with solar-powered boreholes and ten 5,000-liter water tanks, improving access to clean water. This strategic intervention addressed the critical need for sustainable water resources, reducing the environmental pressures caused by communities that might venture into the park in search of the precious commodity.
"The lack of water fueled transhumance and poaching in Faro. Now, this reliable water empowers communities, directly reducing these pressures. Water is not just sustaining lives; it's saving Faro's wildlife," Anthony Agbor, AWF Project Coordinator, says.
Besides reducing pressure on the protected areas, the more than 1,100 residents of Tchamba and Voko villages no longer cover long distance in search of water, improving livelihoods and health.
Water reservoir in Voko, Faro Landscape
Water as a Catalyst for Economic Empowerment in Faro Communities
Beyond the provision of essential household water, these communities are leveraging this resource for economic empowerment as well. Some now dedicate time to produce and sell food items such as buns and pap, while others generate income through the sale of packaged water sourced from the Rural Resource Center to travelers and other residents. Labara does both.
“The water I sell daily gives me a profit of 1500frs CFA ($2.32) and the buns give me a profit of about 2000frs CFA ($3.09) making a total of 3500frs CFA ($5.41) daily. This helps me pay my childrens school fees and purchase food and clothing for them,” Laraba beams.
The availability of running water has also reduced the number of illnesses among villagers in Faro, as many of the villagers now have clean, portable water for both their families and their animals.
“I spend less money treating illnesses from my children. I no longer hear problems of stomachache from them,” Laraba adds.
Transforming Lives and Landscapes: The Ripple Effect of Sustainable Water Solutions Around Faro National Park
The establishment of dedicated water points around the Rural Resource Center has been of great benefit to the herders as well.
"Since the water points were established, I’ve learned to grow my fodder in both the rainy and dry seasons. I no longer enter the park in search of water or graze my father's cattle,” 18-year-old Djibrilla Djoubairou says.
These changes have collectively minimized environmental strain, reduced the ecological footprint of the communities, and fostered a more harmonious coexistence with the park's ecosystem.
“While significant progress has been made, we must remember that there are still fifteen villages in desperate need of sustainable water solutions. We could expand this vital work, to bring clean water and a brighter future to countless more lives,” Agbor says, underscoring the urgency of continued support to ensure the well-being of communities living with the wildlife around Faro National Park.
Faro National Park is a true embodiment of resilience and transformation. Communities like Laraba’s have demonstrated how access to clean water can empower lives, uplift economies, and foster environmental sustainability. However, the journey toward universal access is far from over.