Results of the 2-day Seminar

The blueprint for proper Forestry Governance

Dschang UDs/SIC-06/04/18. The 2 day seminar that wraps up the Forestry week of the Department of Forestry of the University ended with participants and organizers satisfied with the contribution note presented on how to foster better forest governance in Cameroon. During the closing ceremony, Prof Tchamba Martin, Head of the Department of Forestry, succinctly presented the 3 page contribution note to the over 250 participants and media officials present at the University Auditorium. Prof Tchamba stated that during the plenary sessions that was comprised of various workshops, the experts examined the implementation of the APV-FLEGT in Cameroon, its impact, and the  activities that will permit it to overcome challenges and execute its technical ,political and regulatory plans geared towards reinforcing forestry governance and the APV-FLGET in Cameroon. The 2 day seminar which was marked by a host of exposés and exchange sessions bordered on salient issues on forest governance such as ; definition of legality, institution reinforcement for the promotion of legality and forest governance, the organization of principal groups of actors who participate in forest management (committee, civil societies, communities, private and public sectors among others, the revision of the judicial context of forest management and the reinforcement of transparency and participation in the process among other key issues were examined.

The Head of Department highlighted some lapses in the APV FLEGT in Cameroon such as insufficient coordination between the ministries concerned, the slowness in revising forest reforms, policies and legislations, the non-functional verification system, poor commitment of stake holders among others.

To this effect, the participants recommended a blue print for proper forest governance in Cameroon by the various stake holders of the sector;

To the European Union

• Make the integration of international human rights obligations of partner countries a mandatory agenda for APV discussions.

·         Agree with the State of Cameroon and all other stakeholders in the process, for the effective implementation of SIGIF2 

To Cameroon ·        

      Position the political and strategic steering of the process in the service of the Prime Minister;

• Enact forest reform texts( new forest policies, laws, application texts ) engaged since 2008
• Agree with the European Union and other stake holders on the process in view of implementing the SIGIF2;

·         Agree on a new schedule for the implementation of the agreement integrating the issues of transparency and reforms. 

To the Private Sector

·         Sensitize enterprises on the question of legality and the procurement in the local market of legal wood·        

           Be implicated and contribute in the development of SIGIF2

To Civil Societies·        

        Reinforce the follow-up of the agreement taking into consideration development and implementation of the SIGIF2

• Reinforce the organization of small forestry operators and revitalize the follow up platforms for better action coordination
• Sensitize and influence the use of legal wood in the domestic markets

To Universities and research institution

 Design and implement multifaceted capacity building programs to build capacity of all stakeholders in the FLEGT process.·                       

 Operationalize in collaboration with the main actors in the forest sector the three reference training programs in forest governance                developed by the University of Dschang·  

Conduct research action programs in forest governance in order to develop tools and best practices for promoting good forest governance 

These recommendations will surely ameliorate the forest governance in Cameroon and of course serve as a blueprint to ensure transparency in the sector at all level./