By Elias Ngalame
President Paul Biya has signed a decree modifying and updating Cameroon’s forestry law.
The President on 24th July 2024 signed decree validating law No 2024/008 of 24th July to lay down forestry and wildlife regulations.
The decree comes to replace the old 1994 forestry law, bringing in critical changes to drive sustainable forest management, experts say.
“The revision of the Cameroon forest law aims to enable the country respond to current challenges in terms of sustainable management of natural forest resources and protection of the rights of forest communities,” says Ghislain FONOU, Program officer, SAILD.
It should be recalled that Parliament is their June session reviewed the old forest law to ensure better environmental governance and stronger community rights.
A consortium of civil society organizations had called the attention of the country’s legislators to perfect and update the law incorporating the provisions of international legal instruments such as the 1992 Rio Convention, the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the 2021 FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement,VPA as well as the EU Convergence Plan, Central African Forest Commission( COMIFAC 2015-2025).
CSOs like GDA, APED, CeDLA, CERAD,FLAG, SAILD say they have been working tirelessly to advocate for these critical changes.
“ We reached a significant milestone. Our CSO working group had a productive meeting with senators of the Exchange and Production Commission to present our findings and recommendations on the newly tabled draft law during the June 2024 Parliamentary and Senate sessions,” Ghislain said.
The new law accordingly has incorporated changes like territorial rights to benefit local communities, the ban on export of logs, the completion of forest decentralization with creation of regional forests, taking into consideration environment and ecological aspects, improvement of protection of the sector etc.
However, the CSO’s pointed out some major shortfalls that still need to be corrected.
SEE FULL TEXT OF THE LAW ATTACHED.
