Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon

Cameroon's 1994 Forestry law launched a new approach to natural resource management. The 1996 Constitution introduced decentralized authorities, whose role is to enable the economic, social and cultural development of its peoples. The new legal framework for environmental policy and overhaul of the...

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Main Author: Etoungou, P.
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: World Resources Institute 2003
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18702
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author Etoungou, P.
author_browse Etoungou, P.
author_facet Etoungou, P.
author_sort Etoungou, P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Cameroon's 1994 Forestry law launched a new approach to natural resource management. The 1996 Constitution introduced decentralized authorities, whose role is to enable the economic, social and cultural development of its peoples. The new legal framework for environmental policy and overhaul of the Constitution show the Government's will to decentralize and to improve forest resources management. At the same time, decentralization management might be inappropriate in Cameroon. This study examines the community forests of East Cameroon to analyse factors that have not yet been fully taken into account in the current process of community forests establishment. These include exorbitant technical, financial and human costs; the ambiguous role of some international and local NGOs; the virtual, rather than substantial, Common Initiative Groups (CIGs) and Associations; and the disregard for traditional law, despite its legal primacy in African States. The interest in decentralization and forest management, also tied to the "development" of forest populations, has lead to a web of misunderstandings. These findings suggest the question: are community forests the best alternative for decentralized management in East Cameroon?
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spelling CGSpace187022025-01-24T14:11:46Z Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon Etoungou, P. decentralization forest management community forestry Cameroon's 1994 Forestry law launched a new approach to natural resource management. The 1996 Constitution introduced decentralized authorities, whose role is to enable the economic, social and cultural development of its peoples. The new legal framework for environmental policy and overhaul of the Constitution show the Government's will to decentralize and to improve forest resources management. At the same time, decentralization management might be inappropriate in Cameroon. This study examines the community forests of East Cameroon to analyse factors that have not yet been fully taken into account in the current process of community forests establishment. These include exorbitant technical, financial and human costs; the ambiguous role of some international and local NGOs; the virtual, rather than substantial, Common Initiative Groups (CIGs) and Associations; and the disregard for traditional law, despite its legal primacy in African States. The interest in decentralization and forest management, also tied to the "development" of forest populations, has lead to a web of misunderstandings. These findings suggest the question: are community forests the best alternative for decentralized management in East Cameroon? 2003 2012-06-04T09:08:43Z 2012-06-04T09:08:43Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18702 en Open Access World Resources Institute Etoungou, P. 2003. Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon . Environmental Governance in Africa Working Paper Series (WRI) No.12. Washington, DC, World Resources Institute. 28p.
spellingShingle decentralization
forest management
community forestry
Etoungou, P.
Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon
title Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon
title_full Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon
title_fullStr Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon
title_short Decentralization viewed from inside: the implementation of community forests in East Cameroon
title_sort decentralization viewed from inside the implementation of community forests in east cameroon
topic decentralization
forest management
community forestry
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18702
work_keys_str_mv AT etoungoup decentralizationviewedfrominsidetheimplementationofcommunityforestsineastcameroon