The Lake Oku Clawed Frog (Xenopus longipes) is one of the world's rarest amphibians. Endemic to Lake Oku in the Cameroon Highlands, this Critically Endangered species survives in a single freshwater crater lake, making it highly vulnerable to habitat degradation, environmental change, and human activities. Protecting the species requires not only scientific monitoring but also the active participation of the communities that depend on and share this unique ecosystem.

With support from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Grassroot Initiative for Sustainable Development (GISDEV) is implementing a community-led conservation project that combines ecological monitoring with local stewardship to strengthen the long-term protection of the Lake Oku Clawed Frog and its freshwater ecosystem.

The project began with stakeholder engagement involving traditional authorities, community representatives, conservation stakeholders, and local institutions. These consultations ensured that the project reflected community priorities and strengthened local ownership before field activities commenced. The official endorsement by the traditional authorities marked an important milestone in building trust and strengthening community collaboration for conservation.

Following stakeholder engagement, GISDEV trained 20 Community Conservation Monitors drawn from the local community. The training equipped participants with practical skills in amphibian identification, population monitoring, habitat assessment, water quality monitoring, biosecurity measures, and threat assessment. By strengthening local capacity, the project is establishing a community-based monitoring system that will continue generating valuable ecological information while promoting long-term stewardship of Lake Oku.

The first round of field activities has already been completed. Community Conservation Monitors, working alongside the GISDEV technical team, conducted baseline population surveys, habitat assessments, water quality monitoring, and threat assessments across selected monitoring sites around Lake Oku. The information collected provides an important baseline for understanding the status of the species, identifying emerging conservation threats, and tracking ecological changes throughout the project.

Recognizing that effective conservation must also address community livelihoods, the project includes Conservation Enterprise Development activities that support sustainable income opportunities compatible with biodiversity conservation. These initiatives aim to reduce pressures on the Lake Oku ecosystem while strengthening community participation in conservation efforts.

This project demonstrates that protecting endangered species requires strong partnerships between conservation organizations, local communities, and traditional institutions. By combining scientific monitoring with community leadership, GISDEV is helping establish a sustainable model for conserving the Lake Oku Clawed Frog and the unique freshwater ecosystem on which its survival depends.

As implementation continues, the project will strengthen local conservation capacity, generate evidence to guide conservation decisions, and contribute to securing a future for the Lake Oku Clawed Frog and the remarkable ecosystem it calls home.