(Business in Cameroon) - Since 2016, Crelicam, subsidiary of American acoustic guitar manufacturer Taylor Guitars, launched a project aimed at planting 20,000 ebony trees by 2021 in Cameroon.

According to Barbara Wight (photo), Crelicam’s finance director, “Protecting this endangered species means protecting the music world... and (means) that the music coming from Cameroon’s forest will continue.”  She indicates that Taylor Guitars has been using Cameroonian ebony tree for more than 40 years to manufacture globally renowned acoustic guitars.

The investment is estimated at more than half a billion CFA Francs and, according to Barbara Wight, cited by Reuters, it will secure Taylor Guitars’ supply of ebony trees for the coming 1,000 years.  

The American group employs 60 Cameroonians. In 2014, via its local subsidiary Crelicam, it received the business excellence award. This yearly award is presented to American firms that play a key role around the world in terms of sustainable development, respect for human and employment rights, environmental protection, market liberalization, transparency and other democratic values.

BRM