The Rainforests of Cameroon - PROFOR

The Advent of Forest Reform 25tions. The GW, building on brief U.K.-sponsored missions in 2001,became the first independent observer for forest law enforcement,supported by the World Bank, the United Kingdom’s Department forInternational Development (DFID), and the European Union (in fact,this independent monitoring enabled Cameroon to become eligiblefor HIPC debt relief). The GW was succeeded in 2005 by REM, whichworks with MINFOF law enforcement agents to conduct field investigationsand specific studies of governance issues facing MINFOF andthe private sector. The independent observer relies on good field investigationtechniques and information from local informants, follows upon legal cases that are detected, and reports findings to an internalreading committee and directly to the minister. Results of the GW andREM field missions have been published on the Internet.• The Global Forest Watch (GFW) program of the WRI supports Cameroon’sforest monitoring efforts through the use of remote sensing andgeographic information systems and maintains an online cartographicand statistical database for users and managers of forest resources aswell as other constituencies interested in Cameroon’s forests. TheWorld Bank brokered a formal relationship between the governmentof Cameroon and GFW under SAC III, the third structural adjustmentprogram.• The WWF has been involved in most major forest policy and conservationinitiatives, including the first Summit of Central African Headsof State on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of TropicalForests (in Yaoundé in 1999), the development of the nationalstrategy for biodiversity conservation, and the management of majorprotected areas.• The Wildlife Conservation Society has built an extensive collaborativerelationship with MINFOF and CAMRAIL (Cameroon’s nationalrailway system), providing support and technical assistance to protectbiodiversity in national parks and to curb poaching.• The IUCN helps to develop policies for conserving biodiversity andmanaging natural resources, wildlife, and bush meat. It also supportsthe participation of parliamentarians and civil society in policy developmentand implementation oversight.• The Last Great Ape Delivered Organization by The World Bank (LAGA) e-library challenges to: the corruptThe World Bankpractices that threaten biodiversity IP : 192.86.100.34 conservation by collaborating withMINFOF to fight commercial Mon, 09 Nov poaching 2009 17:06:18 and illegal trading in protectedspecies. LAGA does not merely monitor infractions but is involved inall stages of the enforcement and application of Cameroon’s Wildlife(c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank