Forest cover dynamics and land governance

Implications of REED+ for forest land management in Ngambé-Tika, Cameroon.

Abstract

 Cameroon has the second largest forest in Africa. This ecosystem plays major roles in climate regulation, carbon sequestration, soil maintenance and the provision of many other services on which local populations depend. Unfortunately, human activities such as logging and agriculture, which are increasingly practised, are damaging the state of the forests and limiting their contribution to their basic function. The aim of this work is to analyze forest cover dynamics in relation to land governance structures and to assess the implications of REDD+ for forest land management in Ngambé-Tikar. In addition to land observation tools, the methodology combines literature review and field data collection. Over the period 1988 to 2015, the area of mature forest fell from 412224.59 to 280269.25 ha, a loss of 131955.3 ha (28.33%). At the same time, young forests, degraded forests and buildings increased by 78%, 37.25% and 28.96% respectively. The multiplicity of actors and their intervention logics lead to land conflicts and environmental degradation. Thus, the REDD+ program, in addition to contributing to the reduction of forest deforestation, environmental preservation and the sustainable management of forest lands, could be a significant source of income for local populations and the municipality. To achieve this, the legal framework needs to be clearly defined, clarifying customary rights and providing technical support to harmoniously reconcile the pillars of sustainability.