Dr Atanga Ekobo, Programme Manager

"Put me out of it and there will be nothing else that I can do"

One of the pillars of WWF Cameroon, Atanga Ekobo joined WWF in 1989 working under the then coordinator of the Cameroon Office, Steve Gartland. Because of his dedication and hard work as a biologist at the Korup project in the south west of Cameroon, he was given a scholarship to do a doctorate in the UK.

"When I returned to Cameroon with my academic achievement, I promised to dedicate my life to WWF. I worked in the North (Cameroon) then went to the South East to begin the Lobeke project, which today has grown in all dimensions. I am now bringing up another project - Coastal forest programme. This is my joy and contrary to what people think that I should have been working at the headquarters in Yaoundé, my commitment is on the ground-working in the field and help in the creation of protected areas", Atanga notes.

If you doubt his commitment, hear him: "I am a devoted servant. I was born a conservationist. I enjoy doing my work, which to me have become like a game. Put me out of it and there will be nothing else that I can do."

Atanga's vision for his programme is to make the area a WWF stronghold. "I want us to have another stronghold like we have in the Southeast. When we came here, Kupe was decaying. Now things are going on well. Bakossi, Muanenguba, Mount Cameroon and the rest of the area is being revived and managed by one system. The one thing useful to us here is funds. I am hoping that donor interest for our programme will increase so that we can be able to realize our dreams for the area."

The programme manager says working in the field requires an understanding of the local population. "We sometimes neglect the intellect of the locals which is wrong; once in an area of operation be ready to learn more from the people - consider their interest before any other thing."

To work with Atanga, you need to be frank, dedicated and willing to learn. He has good relations with his entire staff and feels the pulse of conservation work on the ground.