Kupe Mwaneguba constitutes what is possibly the largest intact pristine block of high altitude forest, (800-2000 m altitude), in Africa. It is this sub-montane forest, together with the adjoining lowland forest, that has the bulk of the classified species endemic to this area, emphasising the extraordinary biodiversity of the area.
In recent years, researchers from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, have brought together a local team to do botanical survey work and conservation . The Kew initiative has promoted protection of the forest and has contributed to the formation, by central and regional government government, of the new Banyang-Mbo Park. This work supports management of the forest by helping identify conservation priority and suggesting how they can be protected.
The Kew programme has distributed posters in Kupe Muaneguba to Cameroonian NGOs, government bodies and to local schools. The 2007 survey showed a high level of awareness of the value of their environment in the villages.
But poverty drives people to exploit the forest area around the villages. Rehabilitation of depleted land is the first stage of a Land Cooperative programme. This together with improvements in farming methods will help preserve the rainforest.
