Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin

Since the mid-1990s, Cameroon has launched a process of decentralization of the management of its forests. Among other innovations, this decentralization process has transferred powers over forests and financial benefits accruing from their exploitation to local communities. This article explores an...

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Main Author: Oyono, P.R.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19156
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author Oyono, P.R.
author_browse Oyono, P.R.
author_facet Oyono, P.R.
author_sort Oyono, P.R.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Since the mid-1990s, Cameroon has launched a process of decentralization of the management of its forests. Among other innovations, this decentralization process has transferred powers over forests and financial benefits accruing from their exploitation to local communities. This article explores and profiles its local-level outcomes. It shows that the experiment has not yet brought up expected positive results and very often generates internal conflicts, a new social stratification and the marginalization of traditional authorities. Second, the article argues that decentralized management is not producing positive economic results, as there is no significant economic change in the case study villages. Third, it demonstrates that the experiment is leading to negative environmental results, such as the degradation of many community forests in the forested Cameroon. It recommends that policy makers, researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and the local communities design a monitoring framework for decentralized management.
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spelling CGSpace191562025-01-24T14:13:12Z Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin Oyono, P.R. decentralization forest management local people impact conflicts economic analysis monitoring Since the mid-1990s, Cameroon has launched a process of decentralization of the management of its forests. Among other innovations, this decentralization process has transferred powers over forests and financial benefits accruing from their exploitation to local communities. This article explores and profiles its local-level outcomes. It shows that the experiment has not yet brought up expected positive results and very often generates internal conflicts, a new social stratification and the marginalization of traditional authorities. Second, the article argues that decentralized management is not producing positive economic results, as there is no significant economic change in the case study villages. Third, it demonstrates that the experiment is leading to negative environmental results, such as the degradation of many community forests in the forested Cameroon. It recommends that policy makers, researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and the local communities design a monitoring framework for decentralized management. 2005 2012-06-04T09:09:10Z 2012-06-04T09:09:10Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19156 en Oyono, P.R. 2005. Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin . Journal of Environment and Development 14 (2) :1-15.
spellingShingle decentralization
forest management
local people
impact
conflicts
economic analysis
monitoring
Oyono, P.R.
Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin
title Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin
title_full Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin
title_fullStr Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin
title_full_unstemmed Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin
title_short Profiling local-level outcomes of environmental decentralizations: the case of Cameroon’s forests in the Congo Basin
title_sort profiling local level outcomes of environmental decentralizations the case of cameroon s forests in the congo basin
topic decentralization
forest management
local people
impact
conflicts
economic analysis
monitoring
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/19156
work_keys_str_mv AT oyonopr profilinglocalleveloutcomesofenvironmentaldecentralizationsthecaseofcameroonsforestsinthecongobasin