Over the past two decades CWCS is inarguably the lead national institution with demonstrated experience and expertise in mangroves ecosystems research. The organisation is collaborating with several national and international research institutions in mangroves and wetlands ecosystems particularly in research disciplines such as mangroves forest regeneration studies, monitoring biodiversity loss and ecosystems dynamics, studying seasonal patterns of migratory bird species, climate change and REDD+, carbon stocks assessment, livelihood and population dynamics of surrounding local communities, biodiversity assessment and status of wetland areas etc.
During last twenty years CWCS has trained and supported about 100 research bachelor degree students, masters, doctorate and postdoc from national universities and abroad. The organisation has continued to mobilise funding to support conservation work on the ground through Cameroon Mangroves Action Network (CMN) working on various topical issues on mangroves and marine ecosystems such as REDD+ and climate change, marine turtles’ conservation, regeneration studies, shrimp farming etc.
CWCS has created a centre of excellence at its main field base in Mouanko, Douala-Edea. The following are some of the priority actions to establish a multipurpose functional research base and centre of excellence:
- Improve existing research infrastructure (field camps, equipment, GIS database etc.) to support field research work
- Establish a functional website for communication purposes for visibility, information dissemination, networking and marketing Centre of Excellence
- Formalize all partnership agreements with universities and research institutions
- Develop long term research protocol with identified priority areas for field research
- Develop an operational and service manual to manage Centre of Excellence
- Recruit additional personnel with interns and volunteers for running the centre