Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet, a Cameroonian environmental activist and social forester, has dedicated her life to advocating for women’s rights to land and forests. Born in a rural locality near Edea in Cameroon’s Littoral region, she was the ninth of fourteen children in a farming family, which instilled in her a deep connection to forestry and rural life.
Ndjebet pursued her education in agronomy in Cameroon, followed by studies at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK and a Master’s degree in Social Forestry from Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands. Her academic background laid the foundation for her career in environmental activism.
In 2001, she founded Cameroon Ecology (Cam-Eco), focusing on training and supporting women in forest conservation and restoration. Her efforts have led to the restoration of over 600 hectares of degraded land and mangrove forests. Ndjebet also co-founded the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF) in 2009, promoting women’s participation in natural resource management across 20 African countries.
Her advocacy emphasizes the importance of granting women land rights, recognizing that while women often work the land, they rarely own it. By encouraging tree planting on degraded lands, she has helped women gain ownership and improve their livelihoods. Her inspiration stems from meeting Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai in 2009, which reinforced her commitment to environmental conservation.
Ndjebet’s work has garnered international recognition, including the 2022 Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award and the 2025 Kew International Medal for her contributions to forest management and women’s rights.
Her journey underscores the critical intersection of gender equality and environmental sustainability, highlighting the transformative impact of empowering women in natural resource management.
