For the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Cameroon plays a pivotal role across multiple themes, including the conservation and use of agricultural and forest genetic resources, forest landscape restoration using native species, agroforestry, agroecology, climate-smart agriculture, and value chains for beans, bananas, plantains, and cacao. Work in the country has informed regional policy and positioned Cameroon as a hub for innovation in sustainable land use and biodiversity-based solutions.
Cameroon serves as a testing ground for conservation and restoration innovations. Through initiatives such as Beyond Timber, AFR100, and the Diversity for Restoration tool, the Alliance supports balanced forest management, the restoration of degraded lands, and the strengthening of native tree seed systems through platforms like MyFarmTrees, in close collaboration with national institutions such as the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED), the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), and the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI).
The Alliance also advances agricultural genetic resources and resilient value chains. High-performing bean varieties introduced through PABRA are widely cultivated and traded, while collaboration with the Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD) and the former CARBAP strengthens banana and plantain production systems. In cacao, the Alliance supports climate adaptation, improved quality, and enhanced incomes through agroforestry.
