Ecotourism takes off in the Dja biosphere reserve

The natural and cultural potential of the Dja Biosphere Reserve (RBD) attracts the interest of a wide range of stakeholders. To preserve this unique geographical territory, which has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1981, from the multiple pressures of human activity and climate change, it seems worthwhile to promote its sustainable management through the development of community-based ecotourism. Community-based ecotourism could thus represent a viable, equitable and profitable alternative to traditional tourist activities, generally dedicated to the contemplation of biodiversity and run by local populations. This activity, at the end of the chain, would contribute not only to conservation, but also to the development of the reserve’s local communities. The 'Somalomo antenna', which attracted our attention as part of this study, is the reserve’s most visited gateway and offers interesting biophysical and socio-economic assets for the practice of community-based ecotourism.