Gestion participative des forêts : Évaluation de l'efficacité des Comités paysans-forêts dans l'Est-Cameroun

Abstract

Cameroon's forest sector makes a substantial contribution to the national economy and also fulfils a wide range of social and environmental functions. In order to establish sustainable and participatory management of the forest sector, the forest legislation adopted in line with the Rio Summit recommendations provides for the involvement of Smallholder- Forester Committees (CPF) that must be representative of local populations. This article aims to draw lessons for participatory forest management from an assessment of the effectiveness of CPFs in two districts (Boumba-Ngoko and Kadey) in eastern Cameroon. The CPF assessment was conducted in accordance with the legal provisions set out in Decision N° 1354/D/MINEF/CAB dated November 26th 1999, from which 6 evaluation criteria and 20 performance indicators were developed. Data collected in the field reveal dysfunctions in many areas: nonexistence of CPFs in some heavily logged areas, absence of statutory and compliance documents in many CPFs, inadequacy of autonomous funding, lack of cooperation with other forest management partners and unequal representation of social groups in committee decisions. Gap analysis shows that CPF compliance with legal requirements in the relevant districts is very low. None of the criteria are met and compliance is nil for 65% of the indicators. Clearly, the objectives assigned to the CPFs are not being achieved, revealing their ineffectiveness. Proposed avenues for improvement focus on information, empowerment and training for CPFs.