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26.01.2024
Since 2016, the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF) has issued a circular on silvicultural treatment obligations in permanent forests. Observations in the field indicate that the measures laid down in this circular are not really being implemented in the forests concerned. Various arguments have been put forward by the owners and operators of permanent forests in the permanent forest estate to justify the inaction observed to date.
Some of these arguments refer to the difficulty of applying the relevant provisions in the current context. After discussions with some of those involved in the implementation of the circular, it became clear that a discussion of the circular with all stakeholders could provide an opportunity to move towards the effective implementation of the requirements relating to silvicultural treatments in forest concessions.
On 10 and 11 January 2024, a workshop was held in Mbankomo to review Circular No. 086 of 18 May 2016 on silvicultural treatments in Cameroon's permanent forests. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife and ATIBT. The workshop received financial support from the FMU-REFOREST and ASP Cameroon Green Pact projects, both funded by the European Union.
Download the minute of the workshop
Several officials were present, including those from MINFOF, ANAFOR, financial and technical partners (ATIBT/GIZ-ProFEC), the private sector represented by concessionaires (AlpiCAM-GrumCAM, PALLISCO, SEFAC, DINO et Fils, MIGUEL KHOURY) and professional associations SYNEFOR and GFBC, and the Association des Communes Forestières du Cameroun (ACFCAM).
The main objective of the meeting, held under the patronage of the Minister of Forests and Fauna, represented by the Secretary General of the Ministry, was to amend Circular No. 086 with a view to drafting a new legal text.
MINFOF laid the groundwork for the amendment of the Circular. The private sector was given the opportunity to present the difficulties encountered in implementing forestry activities in their Forest Management Units (FMUs).
Work was carried out in plenary sessions and in groups on several topics: updating national reforestation guidelines in production forests, developing indicators for monitoring and evaluating reforestation in production forests and reviewing circular no. 086 of 18 May 2016.
At the end of the workshop, a number of recommendations were made, including the following:
Update Order 222, specifically Article 9;
Include silvicultural activities in management plan approval forms;
Strengthen the capacity of the National Forest Seed Centre in Mbalmayo;
Draw up silvicultural directives to accompany all silvicultural operations in FMUs, Forest Reserves and Reforestation Areas;
Organise exchange trips between forestry companies;
Launch a training programme in sustainable forestry for forest concession staff;
Implement tax incentives for the private sector;
Prepare a workshop to discuss the involvement of the Decentralised Territorial Communities in the PNDPF;
Organise a workshop to present the PNDPF to the various stakeholders;
Organise a workshop for strategic reflection on the implementation of the PNDPF;
Carry out an additional study to analyse the socio-economic impact of the PNDPF;
Establish the governmental anchoring of the PNDPF;
Communicate the results of the Mbankomo workshop to other forestry companies and private sector players in Cameroon.
The workshop was closed with a speech by the Director of Forests, representing the Secretary General of the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife.
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