Cameroon : Indicators

Locations of logging activities pertaining to FMUs and Sales of Standing Volumes are advertised in MINFOF-Yaoundé but not at the local level. However during information meetings some logging concessionaires (about 50%) present maps to local populations. For small titles like AEB, ARB and personal cutting permits, logging locations are not published although specified in the permits. The consequence is that most small titles shift their locations without being intimidated by anyone. Read more...

Generally, local populations are not consulted during the identification of logging locations as this is decided at the Ministry level. However, during the delimitation and gazettement process of FMUs and the elaboration of forest management plans (forest-farmers committees), opportunities are given to local communities to influence or shift the boundaries to secure their own territory. Nowadays, as EIA are required, chances are also provided to local communities to comment on logging impacts and propose mitigation solutions. However, there is no mechanism to make sure that suggestion and amendments made by local communities are taken into consideration in the final version of the EIA. It is worth to note that this consultation process is only for FMUs and does not concern Sales of Standing Volumes and small titles. Finally, loggers engaged in certification carry out consultation of local populations during identification and mapping of forests of high conservation values. Read more...

Populations and public do not have information on permitted logging volumes or quotas as they do not have access to forest management plans and annual cutting permits. Most of the time, this information is confidentially kept by MINFOF, the Ministry of Finance and forest companies who always overestimate these volumes to allow some manoeuvres. Note that each year the Ministry issues the list of all forest species to be exploited with their exploitable volumes. However, these figures are based on unrealistic calculations and extrapolations, and are not public. Read more...

Full forest management plan documents for logging are not public. These forest management plans are sometimes available on websites of logging companies. Since local communities do not have access to internet, they remain uninformed. Most of these forest management plans can be found on the following website: www.data.cameroun-foret.com. Read more...