Cameroon : Indicators

The forest zoning plan of Southern Cameroon drawn with the support of the Canadian Cooperation is so far the main document that permits to deduct forest tenure policy. It divides forest into permanent and non-permanent forest estate. This zoning was very criticized as it was based on old aerial photos and satellite images and does not always take account of human settlements, agro-forestry and pasture zones within forests; and did not involve any stakeholder participation and consultation, especially of local communities. Read more...

Though private land ownership of forests is recognized in the forest code, a list of private forestland owners does not exist. Read more...

There is a clear distinction between ownership and use in the Cameroon forest law. Land and resources are owned respectively by Government in State forests and municipalities in council forests. In community forests, land belongs to State and resources to local communities. Note that in forest land belonging to the State or to municipalities, communities are recognized the right to collect some resources for personal use (collection of firewood and NTFP), and not for commercial purpose. Read more...

The ownership of forest products follows nearly the same patterns like those of lands. State has absolute rights on timber, minerals, non-timber forest products, special forest products (Ebony...), wildlife and water and can grants authorisations to any individual or company to exploit these resources. Within the frame of user-rights, forest resources belong to local communities who are not entitled to sell them. The ownership on Carbon is not yet decided, but it seems as it will be similar to the one of resources tenure. Read more...

Although there are several tenure conflicts occurring in Cameroon, there exist no clear, documented, understood and accessible steps for solving them. Customary and statutory law courts do allow local communities to complain but this is rarely successful due to intimidation, high procedural costs, corruption, and domination of government ... As for the drafting of forest management plans, loggers are obliged to set up a conflict management framework which is occasionally done. Read more...

The forest land use maps exist and are drawn by State (National Mapping Institute) and its foreign partner NGOs (WRI...). The maps prepared by the National Mapping are more general maps, serving as background for more forest-specific maps. NGOs preparing land-use maps are more professional than the MINFOF staff as they have enough resources to hire experts. It is however a concern to leave such a sensitive task under the full control of foreign institutions, and capacity building with a transfer of the task will be more than needed in this area. Read more...