Launch of the Legal Hub of the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme in Cameroon
The legal platform for sustainable wildlife management, known as the “Legal Hub”, was officially launched in Cameroon on 7 November 2025 during a ceremony organized by FAO and the Cameroon Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF). The event gathered around 50 participants from government institutions, partner organizations and civil society.
The launch of the Legal Hub represents an important step for Cameroon. By supporting innovation and the modernization of legal frameworks, the platform contributes to addressing key challenges related to deforestation, poaching and food insecurity.
Developed under the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme, which is being implemented in Cameroon by FAO and CIFOR-ICRAF under the leadership of MINFOF, the Legal Hub is the result of more than 15 months of detailed legal assessments. These analyses identified strengths, gaps and opportunities for improving the national legal framework governing the sustainable management of wildlife. The results were validated through participatory workshops held in Ebolowa in May and July 2025, which brought together a wide range of institutions.
Cameroon is located at the heart of the Congo Basin and is home to ecosystems of significant ecological, economic and cultural value. These areas are increasingly being exposed to pressures linked to economic development, overlapping land uses and land-use change. Local communities and Indigenous Peoples are particularly affected, as their traditional hunting areas often overlap with legal and illegal forest and mining activities. The country also faces growing challenges related to human–wildlife conflict and the prevention of zoonotic diseases.
A new Law, No. 2024/008 of 24 July 2024 on forests and wildlife, was enacted to strengthen customary rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples and reinforce measures to combat poaching and environmental crime. It also introduced new provisions for the sanitary surveillance of wild animals and wildlife products.
The Legal Hub supports legal developments such as the above by facilitating access to legal information, enhancing public participation and promoting multisectoral cooperation. It also strengthens collaboration between FAO and national institutions by identifying legal texts that require further technical support.
The Legal Hub is therefore a key tool for advancing legal reforms aimed at safeguarding Cameroon’s wildlife heritage and supporting the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local communities who depend on these resources.
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