Grantee Spotlight: Marina Kameni
On the Edge Fund, Conservation grantee spotlight
05/05/2025
An amphibious guardian with an appetite for protecting Cameroon’s croakers – Marina is in the building.
Marina Kameni is what science calls a herpetologist, which is someone who studies reptiles and amphibians, working to protect these species across Mount Manengoboua for nearly ten years. Following her EDGE fellowship, in 2022, she founded Herp-Cameroon, the first and only organisation dedicated to amphibian and reptile conservation in Cameroon. Now, she’s taking things up a notch.
Marina’s work
Mount Manengouba is the spot for amphibians. In fact, it’s one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in central Africa, hosting almost half of all Cameroon’s known amphibian species. It’s designated as an Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) site due to the presence of several threatened frog species.
Despite its conservation value and label, this mountain is threatened by the loss of natural habitats through slash-and-burn agriculture, woodcutting, encroachment by livestock grazing, and the use of chemical pesticides. Recently, the confirmation of Chytridiomycosis, a disease that has caused mass amphibian declines worldwide, has added to its concerns.
On the Edge will support Marina and her team to study the ecology of eight EDGE species and several threatened amphibians. This includes information on their distribution, population status and preferred habitats. Additionally, the team will work to reduce the threats they face by influencing behaviour change locally and by developing alternative livelihoods. The team will also engage local young children (in and out of school settings) to develop their awareness of amphibians through an amphibian champion programme.
Name:
Marina Kameni
Country of origin:
Cameroon
Species of choice:
Redbelly Egg Frog (CR)
Bamboutos Smalltongue Toad (CR)
Nsoung long-fingered frog (CR)
Perret's Squeaker Frog (EN)
Manengouba River Frog (CR)
Ornate Egg Frog (EN)
Mertens' Egg Frog (EN)
Black Long-fingered Frog (EN)
Where to from here?
Catch our Animal Sensemaker episode featuring Stingless bees
In the Amazon and tropical places around the world, armies of stingless bees spend their days collecting nectar from plants and flowers across the forest. Listen here.
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