OWONA EBAMBOU Jean Daniel, Sociologist

"This is not a job I do because of money"

Jean Daniel is the sociologist for the programme, which means he plays an active role in coordinating activities of community based organizations. He also comes in as key player in the facilitation of protected area creation and the identification of key areas for protection.

Holder of a Masters degree in social sciences, Jean Daniel has had stints with IUCN and Global Forest Watch before joining WWF in 2001. Material considerations kept aside, the sociologist say it is passion that keeps him going. "This is not a job I do because of money. The field is sometimes so hostile and you need extra tact to interact with people and what a joy to attain your goals after all!"

Called upon to work closely with the people, he says this has led him to meet people of different and difficult habits which often give new challenges. "Once in a remote village in the South West province I suddenly found myself surrounded by over a dozen fierce looking people who wanted to know my mission in the area. When I explained that the team was to carry out an inventory of the forest around, this did not make sense to them.

To know if my intentions were not bad, an old man in the group was charged with carrying out a test. He harvested some leaves around and chewed. He then spat out the chaff on the ground - full of his saliva and I was asked to pick the stuff and chew also. I had no choice. That is how WWF got access to that part of the programme area and we have been working closely with the communities since then," recounts Jean Daniel.

He adds, "the greatest joy is that of helping people improve their livelihood through our work and this has made many to believe that WWF is a caring organization. But we take care and try to be realistic - not to give the impression that we can provide answers to all problems in a community."

Like his colleagues, Jean Daniel thinks WWF would do more in the area if the necessary means were available. He notes that it is difficult to meet up with some commitments when the resources (material and human) are not sufficient. This not withstanding, Jean Daniel and the rest of the team are determined to forge ahead with what is available.