Cameroon : Indicators

There is a national forest forum in Cameroon held every two years. However, diverging views are expressed with regards to the number of forums already held. According the MINFOF, the national forum on forests held from 29 to 30 March 2010 (http://www.minfof-cm.org/art135-fr.php) was the third of its kind, while civil society consider it as the first national forum on forests. That is because the two first were held within the frame of PSFE national meeting while the third one can be considered as the first real forum ever held in Cameroon. It is worth to note that the forum has being institutionalised in December 2010, but the meetings still depends on the availability of funds. Read more...

There are no government-recognised local forest forums in Cameroon. However, there are informal fora and platforms existing in the country to discuss forest issues such as the Djoum’s Platform and Forest model platforms in Campo and Lomie, set up to bring together local forest stakeholders around forest concerns (FOMOD and CAMAMF). Read more...

There is no list of established, government-recognised list of stakeholders in Cameroon with whom government is obliged to consult or share information. Read more...

In case of public consultations, reports are not made public. Read more...

Cameroon has not yet ratified the ILO convention 169.
It is important to note that the Constitution states in its preamble that “State insures the protection of minorities and preserves the rights of indigenous people according to the law”. However, the mentionned law is still awaited. The 1994 law on Forestry stresses on the participation of forest stakeholders in resources management. Read more...

There is no law that gives decision or even veto powers to communities and indigenous people. In fact, the Executive Branch of Cameroon has arrogated itself with all powers and dominates the Judiciary, the Legislative and all local communities. Although mechanisms such as REDD+ and others urge for free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous peoples, it does not seem that these calls are followed by the Government. An illustration is the Ngoyla-Mintom REDD initiatives to be launched without consent of pygmies. Civil Society Organisations (for example CED and its partners) have organised workshops with indigenous people on “right to free prior informed consent” prior to REDD. Read more...

The forest Law does not foresee any legal procedure for consultation of local populations or CSOs in the elaboration of new norms though consultation still occurs. But, according to article 9(e) of the Framework Law on Environmental Management, the various stakeholders must be consulted in the decision-making process relating to environmental and general matters. However, details of such consultation are unknown to this day except for public consultations in EIA studies which are regulated by decrees.
Generally, the initiation of debate for new norms emerges within the central administration constrained by external actors such donors or CSO. This core group of government officials is widened with time to include other stakeholders selected with not clear procedure and criteria. For instance, the 222 order was reviewed by government with consultation of private sector and civil society. The ongoing forest policy reform seems to be more open to consultation to civil society and communities as the network of indigenous communities (RACOPY) has been invited to join the negotiation table and there hopes that more CSO will join negotiations. Read more...