Indigenous Youth-led Biodiversity Restoration in Cameroon: A Traditional Knowledge-Informed Community-Based Initiative

Indigenous youth groups in Cameroon's Cross-River State have initiated biodiversity restoration projects that leverage traditional ecological knowledge. Qualitative research methods were employed, including semi-structured interviews with youth leaders, focus group discussions with participants from affected communities, and documentation of project records. Indigenous youths have successfully restored over 20% of degraded land areas through traditional planting techniques, significantly enhancing local biodiversity. The study underscores the potential for integrating traditional ecological knowledge into formal conservation strategies to foster sustainable environmental management among youth-led initiatives. Further research should investigate scalability and replicability of these practices across different regions in Cameroon and beyond.