🌿 Nature-Based Tourism

We promote the conservation of natural resources by encouraging tourism practices that protect biodiversity, forests, rivers, and wildlife habitats.

We involve local communities directly in tourism projects, ensuring job creation, local ownership, and reduce environmental and social impacts.

🤝 Community-Based Tourism

OCOTONAP collaborates with museums and cultural heritage sites (Traditional palaces) such as the Mankon, Bafut, Bambili, Bali Nyonga and many other sites across the country to conserve and promote Cameroon’s rich cultural heritage.

🏛️ Heritage -Based Tourism

OCOTONAP’s work in safeguarding cultural heritage is built on seven interconnected pillars that ensure traditions, histories, and cultural identities are not only preserved, but strengthened for future generations.

These core activities form a complete cycle; from understanding the risks communities face to protecting heritage sites, empowering local actors, raising public awareness, and fostering meaningful partnerships.

Through this holistic approach, OCOTONAP strives to protect what is culturally valuable, revive what is at risk of disappearing, and support the people who keep heritage alive.

The following seven pillars represent the foundation of our mission and the driving force behind our commitment to cultural preservation.

OCOTONAP conducts detailed assessments of heritage sites vulnerable to natural or human threats. These evaluations help design effective protection and management strategies that safeguard cultural and natural resources.

We empower custodians, traditional leaders, site managers, community members and youth through training in conservation, indigenous skills, community tourism, and resource mobilisation, ensuring long-term cultural management.

4. Documentation and Digitisation

5. Advocacy and Awareness

We raise awareness and advocate for heritage conservation policies that strengthen protection, promote sustainable tourism, and encourage community participation.

OCOTONAP supports communities in organising cost-effective cultural festivals, arts and crafts fairs, and culinary exhibitions to promote local traditions and cultural tourism.

7. Partnerships and Collaboration

We build partnerships with local, national, and international organisations to develop and implement joint programs that protect heritage and promote sustainable tourism.

3. Capacity Building for Heritage Stakeholders

We implement community-based projects to restore, preserve, and promote heritage assets. These initiatives revitalise endangered properties and ensure their sustainability for future generations.

2. Heritage Protection, Preservation and Restoration

6. Supporting Cultural and Traditional Events

OCOTONAP documents and digitizes both tangible and intangible heritage, including museum collections, making them accessible for education and preservation purposes.

OCOTONAP’s cultural emergency response projects highlight our strong collaboration with international organisations devoted to safeguarding heritage and promoting sustainable cultural development in Cameroon. Below are some of the major initiatives successfully executed through these partnerships.

1. Prince Claus Fund (Netherlands) & Cultural Emergency Response Netherlands, in collaboration with Gerda Henkel Foundation (Germany)

This partnership funded the 2020 Cultural Emergency Response Project at the Mankon Palace and Museum Cultural Heritage Site. Key activities included reinforcing the museum’s vulnerable front wall with a stone barrier, constructing a secure metal shelving system for artefact preservation, and digitising the museum’s collections for online access via Google Cloud. Additional outcomes involved training stakeholders and community members on heritage preservation and emergency response, as well as installing fire extinguishers and conducting safety training within the palace and museum.

2. Prince Claus Fund (Netherlands) & Cultural Emergency Response Netherlands, in collaboration with the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH Foundation, Switzerland)

In 2021, this collaboration supported the Cultural Emergency Response Project for the Mankon Museum. The initiative focused on mobilising stakeholders, stabilising 70 fragile museum collections, and reinforcing the lower sections of the museum’s walls using locally baked, climate-resistant bricks. Additional works included constructing durable wooden shelving and 15 raised stands for object displays. The project also facilitated capacity-building workshops on best practices in conservation, indigenous craftsmanship, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

3. Prince Claus Fund (Netherlands) & Cultural Emergency Response Netherlands, in collaboration with the ALIPH Foundation (Switzerland)

This 2021 project targeted the Bafut Palace Cultural Heritage Site, which is on Cameroon’s tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Major interventions included mobilising the community, extending the museum’s security stone fence, rehabilitating one of the queens’ residences, and restoring the exterior ceiling of the sacred ACHUM traditional building.

4. UNESCO – Risk Assessment and Disaster Management Project

UNESCO partnered with OCOTONAP in 2021 to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment and disaster management initiative at the Mankon Palace Cultural Heritage Site. The project included rehabilitation of the deteriorated outer ceiling of the Mankon Museum, strengthening the site’s resilience against environmental damage and ensuring its long-term protection.

5. M. Goodwin Museum Planning Inc. (USA)

M. Goodwin Museum Planning Inc., a Los Angeles-based firm, is currently collaborating with OCOTONAP on the development of Cameroon Grassland Museum Academy in the North West Region. This ongoing initiative aims to provide training, research, and professional development opportunities in museum planning, cultural heritage management, and sustainable tourism.

In partnership with some of our local and national partners we highlight notable projects carried out that protect cultural heritage, empower communities and promote sustainable tourism. Below are some of our realised initiatives;

Project 1: Conception And Production Of The Mankon Travelers' Guide

This compact guide delivers vivid, concise information about life in the Mankon Kingdom, featuring colourful images and an updated, easy-to-read map. It details the Nukwi festivals (documented since the disappearance of King Fomukong in 1866), the kingdom's quarters, the 21 historical kings, local musical genres, cultural heritage sites, and practical visitor information to help one explore Mankon Kingdom confidently.

Project 2: Conception Of Project Proposal By OCOTONAP for the sponsorship of 260 folded aluminium chairs for the Mankon Museum conference hall. Project forwarded to and sponsored by the Ministry Of Arts & Culture, Cameroon.

Project 3: Conception and production of the North West Tourism Guide by the executive director of OCOTONAP - Project funded by the North West Regional Delegation of Tourism and Leisure

Visit OCOTONAP to travel deeper, connect with culture, nature, and the communities who keep them alive.

Heritage Conservation

Protecting cultural and historical resources, including buildings, landscapes, artefacts and objects, for future generations

Promoting cultural heritage and community pride by opening doors to local tourist destinations

Preserving biodiversity, maintaining essential ecosystem services and mitigating climate change

Tourism

Nature Protection

Mr. Ntomnifor is a communicator and devoted cultural heritage specialist with a wealth of experience in tourism promotion across Cameroon. He has a passion for working with rural and marginalised communities. As Executive Director of the Organisation for Community Tourism and Nature Protection (OCOTONAP), he has led major cultural emergency response projects supported by renowned international and national partners such as the Prince Claus Fund, Cultural Emergency Response, ALIPH Foundation, Gerda Henkel Foundation and UNESCO.

With over 15 years of work in heritage preservation, he has built strong expertise in community mobilisation, heritage risk assessment, documentation, museum stabilisation and the protection of endangered cultural sites in crisis contexts. His leadership has strengthened local museum capacities, empowered communities, promoted indigenous knowledge and positioned OCOTONAP as a trusted national and international partner committed to safeguarding cultural and natural heritage for future generations.

Contact Us