1. PRESENTATION CONTENT 1.INTRODUCTION 2.ZONING OF SOUTHERN CAMEROON 3.SOME OF THE KEY STRATEGIC APPROACHES IN FORESTRY POLICY IN THE CAMEROON 4.IMPLEMENTING TOOLS 5.CONCLUSION PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL POLICIES FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE CAMEROON A presentation by Blondeau TALATALA UNGC-REPADER Coordinator

2. Introduction  The general territorial development framework is currently being drawn up by the MINEPAT  At a sectoral level, there are land access and utilisation instruments (DSDSR, mining map, etc.)  The problems of land access, rural development and protecting diversity have very variable parameters given the Cameroon’s broad cultural and geographical diversity.  This requires specific solutions for each geographic entity. 2

3. ZONING IN SOUTHERN CAMEROON 3 Since 1995, the Cameroon has operated an indicative framework of land use in southern forested areas, governed by a PM decree Two major groups can be distinguished in this framework, namely: The permanent domain Intended for forestry purposes, it includes:  Production forests (UFA, communal forests)  Protected areas (parks and reserves); The non-permanent domain This is allocated to uses other than forestry  Agro-forestry areas (farming, stock farming, community forestry, community hunting)  Mining areas

4. ZONING IN SOUTHERN CAMEROON 4 Type of land useSurface area (Hectares) Percentage Forests21 236 47544.7 Other wooded areas14 803 75931.1 Other land11 230 92823.6 Inland waters272 8390.6 TOTAL47 544 000100.0 Estimated land area per overall land use category in the Cameroon FAO, 2003-2004 Observation: forested areas cover approximately 45% of the country’s total land area

5. 5 SOME OF THE KEY STRATEGIC APPROACHES IN FORESTRY POLICY IN THE CAMEROON 1 – Decentralised management of forestry resources. ( This is part of the overall trend towards decentralised management implemented in the Cameroon ) 2 – Participation of those involved ( and in particular local populations ) in the management of forestry resources 3 – Sustainable management and conservation of biological diversity 4 - Participation of the forestry sector in local development

6. 6 IMPLEMENTING TOOLS 1- Decentralised management of forestry resources  Community forestry (at the level of an organised community)  Communal forestry (at the level of a decentralised collectivity)  Community hunting areas (ZICGC)

7. 7 IMPLEMENTING TOOLS 2- The forestry sector’s contribution to local development a)Fiscality applying to forestry via the RFA b)The income generated by the operating of community forests c)The income generated by the operating of communal forests d)Land-leasing taxes (ZICGC)

8. 8 IMPLEMETING TOOLS 3- Sustainable management and conservation of biological diversity (two tools)  Establishing a network of protected areas (20% of the national territory);  Definition of hunting areas (Development of wildlife resources via rational and sustainable exploitation).

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10. 10 IMPLEMETING TOOLS DesignationNumberSurface area (ha) Percentage of the national territory Traditional protected areas 293 549 8197.47% ZIC454 069 0858.57% ZICGC221 396 3822.93% TOTAL969 015 28618.97% Location of Protected Areas in the Cameroon Observation: protected areas cover 18.97% of the national territory

11. 11 IMPLEMENTING TOOLS PermitNumberSurface area Forestry reserves831 384 785.98 Fauna and flora sanctuary5167 854.51 Wildlife reserves7771 854.76 Communal forests7151 407.00 National parks213 248 806.69 UFA1137 265 799.00 Community forests147588 000.00 Total forestry permits13 578 507.94 The territorial development plan: a tool for the sustainable management of natural resources Permanent forestry domain, including community forests (2008-2009) Observation : 74% of the forest area of the Cameroon undergoing development (13 578 508 hectares)

12. 12 4- Participatory, coordinated management of forestry resources Operational Technical Units (UTO) COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT OF FORESTS AND CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE CAMEROON The UTO were mentioned for the first time in 1998 in the Min. Forests They are frameworks for consulting various involved parties in a defined area.  Objective To promote the coordinated management of forestry resources in a multi-party context with a view to contributing to local development  Typology  1 st category UTO (Surface area ≥ 100 000 Ha);  2 nd category UTO (Surface area ≥ 50 000≤100 000 Ha);  3 rd category UTO (Surface area ≤ 50 000 Ha)  Involved parties Forestry operators, mining operators, elected representatives, public authorities, NGOs, FOs, decentralised communities, etc.

13. 13 JUSTIFICATION FOR SETTING UP UTOs  Heterogeneity of those involved, often with diverging interests – (User rights/protected areas)  Overlapping actions on occasion within the same areas – (Overlapping between mining concessions/UFA, EFA/hunting areas, mining permits/protected areas, etc.)  Lack of communication and exchange between parties involved ORGANISATION  Management body (Steering committee; determines and validates areas of action)  Operational body (communal executive, State service, OSC; implementation of guidelines)

14. Example: UTO SE: RESPONSIBILITIES 14 supervising the creation of protected areas in its area of competence; coordinating the management of protected areas; developing a process for the sustainable exploitation of forestry resources in peripheral multi-use areas (buffer zone); developing a process for the sustainable exploitation of wildlife resources in peripheral areas; promoting the participation of local communities in the management of biodiversity; coordinating forestry and hunting policing activities; facilitating ecotourism activities.

15. 15 UTO SE: an integrated planning and management tool for natural resources.  Negotiation of micro-zoning within the UTO  Classification of the AP, UFA, ZICGC, ZIC, FC and Fct  Preparation of the AP  AP implementation support Results obtained in the UTO SE 03 national parks created, 22 forestry concessions 14 community managed areas of hunting interest 09 sport hunting areas An agro-forestry strip

16. 16 CONCLUSION The policy instruments established are relevant  They facilitate the promotion of local development  They facilitate the conservation of biological diversity Looking ahead Special emphasis must be placed on the following aspects:  Governance at the level of territorial communities  Strengthening capacity at a community level  Monitoring the implementation of tools for the sustainable management of natural resources (territorial development plans, etc.)

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