CAMPO, CAMEROON — In a major victory for environmental journalism and grassroots conservation in Central Africa, the official launch of the Projet d’Appui à la Conservation et l’Adaptation Marine Participative pour les Océans (Pro-CAMPO) took place recently in the coastal town of Campo, South Region of Cameroon.
As part of our institutional mission to amplify ecological actions and drive transparency in sustainable development, News Upfront—the specialized media arm of the Upfront Green Initiative (UGI)—was on the ground to provide comprehensive media coverage of this landmark regional event.
The Advocacy Lens: Why Pro-CAMPO Matters
As a media NGO, UGI recognizes that environmental degradation and climate vulnerability cannot be solved in silos. Pro-CAMPO represents a progressive shift toward participatory, cross-border conservation. Funded by the European Union (EU) in Cameroon, this ambitious four-year initiative is strategically positioned to address ecological threats along the critical Atlantic corridor.
The project’s operational scope spans key marine sanctuaries:
In Cameroon: The Manyangué na Elombo-Campo Marine National Park.
In Equatorial Guinea: Interconnected marine protected areas.
By bridging geopolitical boundaries, Pro-CAMPO directly aligns with UGI’s advocacy pillars: reinforcing transboundary governance of shared marine and coastal ecosystems, while explicitly safeguarding the climate resilience and socio-economic livelihoods of local, frontline coastal communities.
Uniting Stakeholders for Community-Led Conservation
The launching ceremony served as a powerful forum for multi-stakeholder dialogue, capturing the intersection of political will, scientific conservation, and indigenous rights. The event brought together:
Institutional leaders from the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF).
Delegates from the European Union.
Traditional authorities and local community leaders, ensuring grassroots voices shape the narrative.
Conservation experts and international development partners.
To guarantee impactful, on-the-ground implementation, the project will be jointly executed by a dedicated consortium: the African Marine Conservation Organisation (AMCO), Tube Awù Ebodjé, and ANDEGE.
From the Newsroom: UGI’s Commitment to Environmental Accountability
For Upfront Green Initiative (UGI), covering the Pro-CAMPO launch is part of a broader commitment to eco-journalism that informs, educates, and inspires policy change.
“Effective conservation must be collaborative and communicative,” notes the UGI editorial board. “Through News Upfront, our role goes beyond passive reporting. We aim to act as a bridge between high-level policy frameworks like the EU’s Global Gateway and the real, lived experiences of the coastal communities in Campo. Documenting this four-year journey ensures transparency, celebrates local solutions, and holds stakeholders accountable to their environmental promises.”
As climate pressures and human activities intensify within the Gulf of Guinea, initiatives like Pro-CAMPO offer a vital blueprint for sustainable co-existence. News Upfront and UGI will continue to follow this project closely, delivering exclusive field reports, community interviews, and progress updates over the next four years.
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