INNOVATIONS CHALLENGES UNDER MULTI-STAKEHOLDERS INITIATIVES FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF FRAGILE ECOLOGY AREA: CASE OF THE NORTH REGION OF CAMEROON

ABSTRACT Context and background  The Northern Cameroon region is characterized by an unstable and fragile ecology. The actors’ actions are structured through collaboration within the framework of projects and programs. The duration of these projects and programs are temporary. In other words, collaboration is not last long. Consequently, solutions based on innovation for environmental challenges, including land degradation and increased pressure on ecosystem, are not long term sustain. Goal and Objectives: In this context, this paper intends to analyze the specific challenges faced by stakeholders’ interventions in promoting innovation for sustainability of fragile ecology areas in the north Cameroon region. Methodology: To achieve this goal, data on stakeholders operating in the north region and agrosylvopastoral innovations was collected through structured interviews. Also, land modification and population growth data was collected online and over documentary research. These data were subjected to statistical analyses and remote sensing. Results: The results shows that land modification in term of degradation and deforestation is increasing significantly from the north part of the region to the south part of the region. Protected areas are not to be outdone, as they are also experiencing significant degradation because of human activities, particularly wood energy and agriculture. Stakeholders’ response to this sustainability challenge is limited in time through collaboration and agrosylvopastoral innovations. Furthermore, emergence and diffusion of innovation to combat challenges are temporally supported because of the end of project or programs stop the operation of innovations. This study has enabled understand the obstacles to the emergence of innovations, in particular the poor monitoring of the operation of innovations after projects/programs have come to an end, the poor coordination of the actors behind innovation projects. It provides levers that can be mobilized to multiply and accelerate innovation processes and thus contribute to the long-term sustainability of agro-pastoral terroir in North Cameroon.