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| Cameroon Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife |
| Native name | Ministère des Forêts et de la Faune |
| Formed | 1974 |
| Jurisdiction | Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon |
| Minister | [Name varies] |
| Parent agency | Government of Cameroon |
Cameroon Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife The Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife is the central administrative body responsible for managing Cameroon's forest resources and wildlife heritage, including oversight of timber production, biodiversity protection, and community forestry. It operates within national institutions such as the Presidency of Cameroon and in collaboration with regional administrations like the East Region (Cameroon), South Region (Cameroon), and North Region (Cameroon), while interacting with international actors including the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Wildlife Fund, and the African Union.
The Ministry traces origins to post-colonial restructuring following independence and administrative reforms under leaders such as Ahmadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya; it evolved through policy shifts influenced by the 1975 Land Law (Cameroon) era and the creation of sectoral agencies like the Cameroon Development Corporation and the National Forestry and Wildlife Agency (DFAP) models. Its mandate expanded amid global environmental movements epitomized by the Rio Earth Summit and regional initiatives like the Yaoundé Summit and the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC). Periods of reform responded to international pressures from organizations such as World Bank, European Union, and International Union for Conservation of Nature on issues highlighted by cases involving companies like Société Nationale d'Investissement (Cameroon) and disputes linked to timber concessions in areas adjacent to protected sites such as Bouba Njida National Park and Korup National Park.
The Ministry is charged with implementing national policy frameworks established by instruments including the 1994 Forestry Law (Cameroon) and directives from the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development. Responsibilities cover sustainable management of production forests under schemes similar to concession systems and support for community initiatives inspired by programs like REDD+ and bilateral accords with actors such as the Agence Française de Développement and the German Agency for International Cooperation. It coordinates wildlife management in collaboration with institutions such as Cameroon Wildlife Development Authority analogues, enforces hunting regulations framed alongside conventions like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and engages with transboundary mechanisms including TRIDOM and the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.
Operational units mirror international models: directorates responsible for forest policy, wildlife management, research, and enforcement, often interacting with state entities such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Cameroon), the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization (Cameroon), and provincial delegations in Centre Region (Cameroon) and West Region (Cameroon). Scientific advisory links extend to academic institutions like University of Yaoundé I, University of Dschang, and research centers including the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD). Enforcement integrates with security institutions such as the National Gendarmerie (Cameroon) and customs agencies, while stakeholder coordination involves non-state actors like Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch and international NGOs including WWF-Cameroon.
Key initiatives reflect global and regional priorities: implementation of REDD+ readiness, facilitation of community forest management inspired by the 1994 Forestry Law (Cameroon), and development of sustainable timber certification schemes in line with standards championed by organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council and the International Tropical Timber Organization. Programs address human-wildlife conflict in landscapes such as Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary and promote livelihood projects similar to cooperative models used by the Cameroon Development Corporation. Policy instruments have been shaped by donor engagements from the World Bank, European Union, and bilateral partners including Germany and France.
The Ministry oversees management interfaces with national parks like Waza National Park, Bouba Njida National Park, Korup National Park, and transboundary efforts such as cooperation with Nigeria on border reserves and with Gabon through COMIFAC mechanisms. Protected-area strategies coordinate with international conservation conventions including the Convention on Biological Diversity and partnerships with NGOs like Conservation International and Fauna & Flora International. The Ministry supports ecological research involving species such as the Cross River gorilla, African forest elephant, mandrill, and avian fauna documented in inventories by institutions such as BirdLife International.
Enforcement actions involve coordination with judicial bodies such as the Supreme Court of Cameroon and security services including the Cameroonian Armed Forces and the National Gendarmerie (Cameroon), targeting illegal logging operations often linked to regional supply chains through ports like Douala Port and networks investigated by entities similar to Global Witness. Anti-poaching operations are coordinated with international law enforcement frameworks including INTERPOL and transnational anti-trafficking initiatives aligned with the CITES Secretariat, with prosecutions informed by provisions of the 1994 Forestry Law (Cameroon) and subsequent regulatory decrees.
The Ministry engages donors and multilateral partners such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union, United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral partners including the Agence Française de Développement and KfW. It participates in regional platforms like COMIFAC and the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, and accesses climate finance channels under mechanisms such as REDD+ and the Green Climate Fund. Collaborative research and capacity-building projects involve universities like University of Yaoundé II and international NGOs such as WWF and Conservation International.
Category:Forestry in Cameroon Category:Wildlife conservation in Cameroon