Rethinking Rights and Interests of Local Communities in REDD+ Designs: Lessons Learnt from Current Forest Tenure Systems in Cameroon

Abstract

It is increasingly becoming clear that reforms based on the claims of local forest communities regarding the right to natural resources will be needed to adequately address issues of sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa. The current institutional and policy frameworks of Cameroon and other SSA countries have bestowed exclusive land tenure rights to the State, while curtailing access of local farmers to forest and forest-based resources on which they depend for a living. It is therefore unlikely that successful forest conservation and implementation of REDD+ can be possible without recognition and enforcement of customary tenure. This paper aimed to sense smallholders' perceptions on rights and risks in the current forestry policy arena linked with the climate change debate in Cameroon. Using semistructured questionnaires and focus group discussions about 7 key informants and 66 community forest users were investigated about the current tenure systems and the risks of related conflicts. Findings from the field provide empirical evidence on the sources of conflict. Based on failures and positive elements of community forestry, the lessons learnt could enrich the on-going REDD safeguard debates and serve as guiding milestones towards the effectiveness of this initiative across the country and the continent.

Completing the Picture: Importance of Considering Participatory Mapping for REDD+ Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV)

“…Furthermore, social safeguards for REDD+ require participation and respect for local and indigenous community rights [52] including the recognition of customary rules [53]. The keen interest of local communities in drawing the maps is a good indicator of their willingness to debate these issues.…”

Acusaciones de abusos de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas en el contexto de la preparación e implementación de REDD+: Una revisión preliminar de la literatura académica y una propuesta a futuro

“…Scheba y Rakotonarivo (2016) informan sobre conflictos por el uso de la tierra relacionados con REDD+ en Tanzania, como parte del esfuerzo más amplio de REDD+. Raftopoulos (2016) informa sobre un proyecto de REDD+ que llevó al cercamiento de bosques comunales, lo cual generó conflictos entre aldeas y en el interior de las mismas sobre la propiedad y el acceso a la tierra; esto se produjo luego que se anunciara que la compensación de la comunidad dependería del área de bosque protegido (véase Ngendakumana et al 2013 sobre un caso similar en Camerún). En este contexto, Beymer-Farris et al (2012) revelan cómo los esfuerzos de conservación represivos son respaldados por un discurso que retrata a los pueblos indígenas como migrantes recientes que destruyen los bosques.…”

An Analysis of Local Participation in Community Forestry: The Case of Tinto and Bimbia-Bonadikombo Community Forest, Cameroon

“…Tinto falls within the rich evergreen forest areas of Cameroon known for their endemic species. The adjacent inhabitants of the forest are between 1700-2000 people distributed across three villages of the same clan: Tinto Mbo, Tinto Wilier and Tinto kilier (Ngendakumana et al, 2013).…”