CommunityCommunity--Based Forest Based Forest

Enterprises in Cameroon:Enterprises in Cameroon:A case study of the A case study of the NgolaNgola--AchipAchip

Community Forest in East CameroonCommunity Forest in East Cameroon

By By AnguAngu AnguAngu KennethKenneth

Developmental/Conservation AnthropologistDevelopmental/Conservation Anthropologist

Technical Assistant to the Coordinator of Technical Assistant to the Coordinator of

the Central African Forest Conservation Programme the Central African Forest Conservation Programme

and the Central African Moist Forest Ecosystems and the Central African Moist Forest Ecosystems

IUCNIUCN--Regional Office for Central AfricaRegional Office for Central Africa

CFE in Tropical Forest Countries, ITTO, Forest Trends and RRI

Country BackgroundCountry Background� Situated in the Congo Basin, Cameroon has a surface area

of 47.5 m ha of forests

� 40% forest cover

� Forest activities contribute to

10% GNP

� 1995, ITTO estimated timber production at 2.3 m Cm3

� 2002, 4.3 m Cm3

� Commercial logging companies employ 30,000

� 2003, production valued at 187 million USD

Country Background (2)Country Background (2)

� During the 1980s and early 1990s, the world economic

recession plunged Cameroon into an economic malaise that

precipitated unrest and fostered unsustainable forest

practices;

� January 1994, CFE devalued by 50%, leading to serious

impacts on local and indigenous populations

� Forestry as an avenue for restructuring the economy

� 1994: Forestry Reform – institutionalization of local

management of forestry activities, village communities have

access to greater income from commercial logging

Highlights of the 1994 Forestry Highlights of the 1994 Forestry

ReformsReforms

� Forest divided into Non-

Permanent forest domain

(multiple-use land) and

Permanent forest domain

(belong to the state and rural

councils)

� Community forestry defined by the new law as “increasing

the participation of local populations in forest conservation

and management” and “seeking to secure substantial

benefits for village communities a well as to motivate them

to better protect forest cover”

Overview of Country Case StudyOverview of Country Case Study

�� Four rural villages: Four rural villages: NgolaNgola, , AchipAchip, Ndam, and , Ndam, and NgolaNgola--BakaBaka

�� MultiMulti--ethnic community of Bantu and ethnic community of Bantu and BakaBaka Pygmies; Pygmies; control of village activities lies with three main families control of village activities lies with three main families ––the the BalogbosBalogbos, the , the PaPa’’ahsahs, and the , and the BamouhsBamouhs..

�� Each village has a village Chief, who reports to the Each village has a village Chief, who reports to the ““Chef Chef de Cantonde Canton”” (Paramount Chief) at (Paramount Chief) at ZoulabotZoulabot (a few km (a few km away)away)

�� 1998: creation of The Association of the Families of 1998: creation of The Association of the Families of

BalogboBalogbo, , PaPa’’aa and and BamouhBamouh of of NgolaNgola--AchipAchip

�� 2000: Legalization of the Association2000: Legalization of the Association

�� 4 villages, population 1050, 4200 ha of forested area 4 villages, population 1050, 4200 ha of forested area

managed as community forestmanaged as community forest

History of the EnterpriseHistory of the Enterprise�� 1996: national NGO 1996: national NGO EnviroProtectEnviroProtect organises a workshop in a organises a workshop in a neighboringneighboring village on the 1994 village on the 1994 CameroonianCameroonian forestryforestry lawlaw, , applications and new applications and new opportunitiesopportunities for local for local communitiescommunities likelikeNgolaNgola--AchipAchip

�� 1998: new 1998: new impetusimpetus for acquisition and for acquisition and organizationorganization of of communitycommunity forestforest withwith the the arrivalarrival of SNF/SDDL, a of SNF/SDDL, a DutchDutchdevelopmentdevelopment and conservation and conservation organizationorganization

�� 1998: Association of 1998: Association of BalagboBalagbo, , PaPa’’aa and and BamouhBamouh FamiliesFamilies of of NgolaNgola--AchipAchip createdcreated to to runrun the the enterpriseenterprise on on behalfbehalf of the villagesof the villages

Exploitation of Timber and other Exploitation of Timber and other

NTFPsNTFPs�� SmallSmall--scale loggers have often been contracted to harvest scale loggers have often been contracted to harvest various timber species;various timber species;

�� To date, four major loggers have had the privilege to To date, four major loggers have had the privilege to harvest: harvest: �� LL’’HomageHomage InvestissementInvestissement Service (Owned by M. Service (Owned by M. LomiLomiéé GGéérardrard); );

�� PasserellePasserelle (Owned by Mme Esther (Owned by Mme Esther ElaEla); );

�� SICOGEC (Owned by M. Paul SICOGEC (Owned by M. Paul MpayMpay); and); and

�� BexdanBexdan (owned by M. Daniel (owned by M. Daniel DjohDjoh). ).

�� Loggers contracted by bureau members and later presented Loggers contracted by bureau members and later presented to villagers in a general village meetingto villagers in a general village meeting

�� Villagers are not satisfied with operations Villagers are not satisfied with operations –– selective and selective and unsustainable exploitation and low rate of payment per munsustainable exploitation and low rate of payment per m33

of wood (24,000 FCFA). of wood (24,000 FCFA).

Exploitation of timber and other Exploitation of timber and other

NTFPsNTFPs (2)(2)�� NTFPsNTFPs are exploited mainly for subsistence purposes (i.e. are exploited mainly for subsistence purposes (i.e.

food and shelter). food and shelter).

�� Predominant Predominant NTFPsNTFPs

include Bitter kola include Bitter kola

((GarciniaGarcinia kola), kola),

MoabiMoabi oil (oil (BaillonellaBaillonella

toxispermatoxisperma), ),

NjansangNjansang

((RicinodendronRicinodendron

heudolottiheudolotti), Bush ), Bush

mango (mango (irvingiairvingia

gabonensisgabonensis), and ), and

raffia palm leaves.raffia palm leaves.

�� Elected bureau members Elected bureau members

represent the village in all represent the village in all

aspects concerning aspects concerning

community forestry;community forestry;

�� Bureau must represent all four villages, also gender and Bureau must represent all four villages, also gender and

youthyouth

�� Village elites (Village elites (bourgeouisesbourgeouises living in large cities) often living in large cities) often

influence the decisions of bureau members, to the influence the decisions of bureau members, to the

detriment of the realities for those actually living in the detriment of the realities for those actually living in the

villagesvillages

Enterprise Organisation, Enterprise Organisation,

Management and GovernanceManagement and Governance

Economics of the EnterpriseEconomics of the Enterprise

�� 34 million FCA profit in the first five years34 million FCA profit in the first five years

�� Heavy financial investment necessary to exploit timber Heavy financial investment necessary to exploit timber resources, so communities are unable to conduct resources, so communities are unable to conduct harvesting themselves;harvesting themselves;

�� Communities sign contracts with smallCommunities sign contracts with small--scale logging scale logging companies for harvest and sale of final product;companies for harvest and sale of final product;

�� Very little lucrative reVery little lucrative re--investment in first five years of investment in first five years of business. Rather, priorities were rehabilitating health business. Rather, priorities were rehabilitating health infrastructure and providing education;infrastructure and providing education;

�� 1616--18 people employed by each factory18 people employed by each factory

Environmental & Social BenefitsEnvironmental & Social Benefits

� New forestry laws and regulations createincentives for local conservation of biodiversity

� Higher local incomes result in local development, improved education infrastructure, health and medical emergency infrastructure

� Construction of twonew churches, twotelevision sets, a generator, and a satellite dish for the village

Obstacles & Lessons LearnedObstacles & Lessons Learned

�� VastVast administrative administrative bottlenecksbottlenecks;;

�� LackLack of of financialfinancial and and technicaltechnical expertise;expertise;

�� LackLack of of financialfinancial capital or capital or creditcredit resourcesresources to to fundfundextraction and extraction and processingprocessing;;

�� DecentralizationDecentralization of of forestforest management management alonealone isis not not sufficientsufficient; ; successsuccess alsoalso demandsdemands technicaltechnical training, and training, and fundingfunding or or creditcredit availabilityavailability;;

�� LackLack of of bargainingbargaining experienceexperience or or knowledgeknowledge, , villagersvillagerstakentaken advantageadvantage of by of by logginglogging companiescompanies;;

�� GenerationalGenerational and and sociosocio--economiceconomic conflictsconflicts withinwithin villages villages surroundingsurrounding opportunityopportunity, control, and , control, and decisiondecision--makingmaking in in the the enterpriseenterprise;;

�� CommunityCommunity enterpriseenterprise maymay bebe creatingcreating a new a new formform of of social stratification;social stratification;

Conclusions, Ways Forward, &

Opportunities�� Most communities were not wellMost communities were not well--prepared to manage their prepared to manage their community forests community forests –– new programs and models must include new programs and models must include extensive training and extensive training and capacitationcapacitation for logging, fundraising and for logging, fundraising and marketingmarketing

�� Communities must be educated to recognize the differences betweeCommunities must be educated to recognize the differences between n logging and community logging and community forestryforestry, which also includes agriculture, , which also includes agriculture, fishing, ecotourism, and NTFP harvestingfishing, ecotourism, and NTFP harvesting

�� Additional investment is necessary to allow CFEs to diversify thAdditional investment is necessary to allow CFEs to diversify their eir productsproducts

�� Training and careful institutional structure must work to addresTraining and careful institutional structure must work to address s internal conflict within communitiesinternal conflict within communities

�� Equal benefit distribution does NOT occur naturally and must be Equal benefit distribution does NOT occur naturally and must be carefully cultivated within management plans, employment and carefully cultivated within management plans, employment and institutional structureinstitutional structure

�� Government should allocate more resources for appropriate techniGovernment should allocate more resources for appropriate technical cal support and training for communitiessupport and training for communities