The Rainforests of Cameroon - PROFOR

Objectives and Content of the Reforms 33Box 3.2Impact of consultations on size and boundaries of forestconcessionsIn most consultations related to the gazetting of production forests, local populationsclaimed rights to land that the zoning plan had slated for new timberconcessions and requested that the proposed boundaries be adjusted. Despiteinitial resistance from authorities, the boundaries of most concessions (currentand proposed) have been adjusted to reflect local land claims.30Additions or reductions (percent)20100–10–20–30–40–50–60–7010 20 30 40 50ConcessionsThe figure illustrates the variation in area after gazetting is completed.Although no specific studies have been done to ascertain the extent to whichlegitimate claims were taken into account, it is noticeable that boundaries wereadjusted for 36 out of 45 zoning proposals. Adjustments ranged from a reductionin the proposed area of 59 percent to an increase of 19 percent. Whenpossible, the administration tried to compensate for the reduced area by dividingunallocated forest management units or mining areas, which in some casesincreased the area of concessions that had been reduced.Source: Authors, based on Delivered data from MINFOF. by The World Bank e-library to:The World BankIP : 192.86.100.34Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:06:18(c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank