Int. J. Fores. Env. | Volume 03, Issue 01, 121-129 | https://doi.org/10.18801/ijfee.030121.13
Article type: Research article | Received: 14.11.2020; Revised: 09.03.2021; First published online: 31 March, 2021.
Article type: Research article | Received: 14.11.2020; Revised: 09.03.2021; First published online: 31 March, 2021.
Forest tenure and rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative
Ernest Ako Enow, Terence Onang Egute and Eike Albrecht
BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Erich-Weinert Str. 1, 03046 Cottbus, Lehrgebäude 10, Raum 525, Cameroon.
✉ Corresponding author: [email protected]; [email protected] (Enow, EA).
BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Erich-Weinert Str. 1, 03046 Cottbus, Lehrgebäude 10, Raum 525, Cameroon.
✉ Corresponding author: [email protected]; [email protected] (Enow, EA).
Abstract
The link between Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, with the enhancement of forest carbon stock (REDD+) and Community Forest Management (CFM) as a necessary local action on the forest, is continuously being challenged. CFM has been a suitable option in achieving sustainable forest practices in the tropics. The factors that contribute to its success will likely contribute to the success of REDD+ programs in Cameroon. Nevertheless, the opportunity and challenges in integrating the two concepts to achieve the objectives require careful analysis, considering the challenges facing the country’s tenure system. This article makes use of an in-depth content analysis of several documents concerning the subject matter and tries to examine the extent to which forest tenure and rights are a constraint to CFM in Cameroon and the REDD+ Initiative and assess how these concepts can work together to achieve sustainable forest management and a reduction in deforestation and forest degradation. The assessment shows several bottlenecks and discrepancies concerning tenure rights in the community forest and carbon rights when it concerns incentive-based benefit-sharing mechanisms under the REDD+ process. It reveals that the state may likely maintain centralization of forest tenure if the issues are not clarified. The article concludes with a proposal of an urgent need for domestic legal reforms to secure forest protection achieve the objectives of international forest policy initiatives like REDD+.
Key Words: Deforestation and Forest Degradation, Sustainable Forest Management, Forest Tenure and Rights, REDD+, Community Forest Management and Cameroon.
The link between Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, with the enhancement of forest carbon stock (REDD+) and Community Forest Management (CFM) as a necessary local action on the forest, is continuously being challenged. CFM has been a suitable option in achieving sustainable forest practices in the tropics. The factors that contribute to its success will likely contribute to the success of REDD+ programs in Cameroon. Nevertheless, the opportunity and challenges in integrating the two concepts to achieve the objectives require careful analysis, considering the challenges facing the country’s tenure system. This article makes use of an in-depth content analysis of several documents concerning the subject matter and tries to examine the extent to which forest tenure and rights are a constraint to CFM in Cameroon and the REDD+ Initiative and assess how these concepts can work together to achieve sustainable forest management and a reduction in deforestation and forest degradation. The assessment shows several bottlenecks and discrepancies concerning tenure rights in the community forest and carbon rights when it concerns incentive-based benefit-sharing mechanisms under the REDD+ process. It reveals that the state may likely maintain centralization of forest tenure if the issues are not clarified. The article concludes with a proposal of an urgent need for domestic legal reforms to secure forest protection achieve the objectives of international forest policy initiatives like REDD+.
Key Words: Deforestation and Forest Degradation, Sustainable Forest Management, Forest Tenure and Rights, REDD+, Community Forest Management and Cameroon.
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Article Citations:
MLA
Enow, E. A. et al. “Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative”. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 03(01) (2021): 121-129.
APA
Enow, E. A., Egute, T. O. and Albrecht, E. (2021). Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 03(01), 121-129.
Chicago
Enow, E. A., Egute, T. O. and Albrecht, E. “Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative”. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 03(01) (2021): 121-129.
Harvard
Enow, E. A., Egute, T. O. and Albrecht, E. 2021. Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 03(01), pp. 121-129.
Vancouver
Enow, EA, Egute, TO and Albrecht, E. Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 2021 March 03(01): 121-129.
Enow, E. A. et al. “Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative”. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 03(01) (2021): 121-129.
APA
Enow, E. A., Egute, T. O. and Albrecht, E. (2021). Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 03(01), 121-129.
Chicago
Enow, E. A., Egute, T. O. and Albrecht, E. “Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative”. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 03(01) (2021): 121-129.
Harvard
Enow, E. A., Egute, T. O. and Albrecht, E. 2021. Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 03(01), pp. 121-129.
Vancouver
Enow, EA, Egute, TO and Albrecht, E. Forest tenure and Rights: a constraint to community forest management in Cameroon and the REDD+ initiative. International Journal of Forestry, Ecology and Environment, 2021 March 03(01): 121-129.
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