The Center for Tropical Research–Cameroon (CTR-Cam) and the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology (ECCB) within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS) at Texas A&M AgriLife Research have signed a landmark five-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing a strategic framework for collaboration in education, research, training, and outreach.
The agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing conservation biology, biodiversity science, ecological restoration, and environmental stewardship through interdisciplinary partnerships and capacity building.
The partnership creates a formal platform for scientists, students, and institutions in Cameroon and the United States to work together on research that addresses some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Collaborative activities will include joint research projects, student and faculty exchanges, professional training, workshops and symposia, curriculum development, technical assistance, and the pursuit of competitive international research funding.
A key milestone under this agreement is CTR-Cameroon’s representation on the ECCB External Advisory Board, providing the organization with an important voice in shaping the department’s strategic direction and strengthening global engagement in conservation science.
The agreement also creates new opportunities for qualified CTR-Cam scientists to receive non-tenure-accruing adjunct faculty appointments at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, in accordance with established university policies. Scientists holding Ph.D. degrees may be considered for appointments as Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Adjunct Research Associate Professor, or Adjunct Research Professor, while professionals with master’s degrees and substantial industry or professional experience may be eligible for appointments as Adjunct Professor of Practice. These appointments will strengthen scientific collaboration, promote joint mentorship of graduate students, and expand opportunities for collaborative research and knowledge exchange.
Beyond institutional collaboration, the partnership is expected to accelerate conservation innovation by combining Texas A&M’s world-class research capacity with CTR-Cameroon’s extensive experience implementing biodiversity conservation and community-based environmental programs across Central Africa. Together, the two institutions will develop solutions that integrate cutting-edge science with local knowledge to address biodiversity loss, ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, wildlife conservation, and sustainable natural resource management.
By establishing clear roles, shared responsibilities, and long-term mechanisms for cooperation, CTR-Cameroon and Texas A&M University reaffirm their commitment to building scientific capacity, training the next generation of conservation leaders, and delivering practical, evidence-based solutions to environmental challenges in Cameroon, Texas, and around the world.
This landmark partnership represents an important step toward strengthening international cooperation in conservation science and demonstrates how strategic academic partnerships can generate lasting benefits for people, biodiversity, and the planet.
