Cameroon

Forestry legislation

Law n°94/01 of 20/01/94 on forests, wildlife and fisheries codifies forestry, wildlife and fisheries policy, and specifies the means of policy implementation. The legal texts for application of the law are Decree Law n°95/466 of 20 07/95, on wildlife, and Decree Law n°95/531 of 23/08/95 on the forest. Law n°96/12 of 05/08/96 covers the environment and there is no specific legislation on its implementation. Cameroon¿s new forestry policy embodies Cameroon¿s and the international community¿s concern for nature conservation, reflecting now universal notions on development and environment. There are five major policy thrusts: protect forest resources and help put biodiversity conservation and environmental protection on a permanent footing; boost public participation in forest resource conservation and management to help people raise their living standards; develop forest resources for enhanced forest sector contribution to GDP; ensure resource renewal through regeneration and reforestation to ensure lasting forest production potential; and, vitalize the forest sector through the establishment of effective institutions, enlisting the full participation of all stakeholders in forest and environmental management. The policy also includes innovations designed to enhance sustainable forest resource development. These include the establishment of a forest development fund, decentralized forest management, enhanced protection of forest ecosystems and wildlife habitats, support measures to maintain and augment the national presence in forest industries, the financing of forest development activities through programmes, differentiated management, permanent forests and multi-use forests, resource removals tailored to forest potential, greater concern for protection of plant cover with the introduction of the classification of ecologically fragile zones, and lastly, enhancing the value of other forest products.

last updated: Monday, October 1, 2007