The Rainforests of Cameroon - PROFOR

Ten Years of Forest Sector Reform 123Community forestry support would then feature new schemes thatwould accommodate the products of a specific location, the opportunitiespresented by niche markets, and the profile of the rural investor,be it a community, an enterprise, or a cooperative. This may implygranting priority or exclusive rights to commercial use of specific timberand nontimber forest products to local enterprises, helping themwith marketing information and legal advice, and offering other typesof support.A 2006 review of community forests (Cuny and others) highlightedthe wide disconnect between the spirit of the 1994 Forest Law and thesituation in the forests themselves, where the aims of reducing povertyand responsibly managing forests were far from universally respected.Based on the review’s conclusions, a large consultation was organizedwith all parties involved (representatives of communities, the private sector,NGOs, and local and central administration), leading to a consensualproposal that supports changes in the conceptual framework for communityforestry and designs a new regulatory framework.Adapt Reform Instruments to Emerging Forest Managementand Industry NeedsBy 2007, 48 forest management plans had been approved and were beingimplemented by industrial forest operations in UFAs. Emerging evidencesuggests that in Cameroon’s mostly secondary forests the implementationof these management plans imposes severe constraints on speciesmix and volumes harvested. The new social, fiscal, and other obligationsthat often accompany these plans can make it more difficult for industryto integrate them into their business model.The fragility of Cameroon’s industry as it transitions to a highly regulatedand managed forest production system is underappreciated becauseinternational timber prices have remained relatively high. High priceshave somewhat compensated for the industry’s limitations. In fact, industrycontinues to rely on a few tree species, remains focused on sawn timber,and has failed to invest in market research and technology that makeit possible to use a broader range of species. Unless adequate measuresare taken, several companies could be bankrupted by the next downturnin timber prices. Anticipating Delivered by The these World risks, Bank a e-library series to: of measures has beenThe World Bankproposed in a recent audit of IP Cameroon’s : 192.86.100.34forest sector (CIRAD 2006).These measures are presented Mon, 09 in Nov table 20096.1; 17:06:18 additional technical adaptationsto better integrate the tax regime and auction system are discussedin appendix 10.(c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank