TY - JOUR
T1 - Community forestry in Cameroon
T2 - Insights on state institutional deficits
AU - Alemagi, Dieudonne
AU - Peter, Minang
AU - Nukpezah, Daniel
AU - Duguma, Lalisa
AU - Foundjem-Tita, Divine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - Community forestry (CF) was set-up in Cameroon about 20 years ago to enable better environmental, economic, and social benefits for communities. Since then, 430 community forests have been attributed, covering an area of almost 1.7M ha. However, less than a quarter (10%) are in active management or enterprise. Weak institutions have been widely cited as a leading cause of poor performance in the community forestry process. This paper examines the current state of institutional deficits in Cameroon and identifies pathways for overcoming the deficits. Our analysis is based on a rigorous review of documented experiences so far. Results obtained revealed that emerging deficits revolve around form and functions. Legal; power, authority and rights; and size and biophysical potential deficits were grouped under the realm of form while resources; capacity; and governance deficits were grouped under the realm of functions. Proposed solutions to these deficits point to the need to recognize and manage inter-dependencies between challenges and corresponding potential solutions. Hence a system or integrated approach is needed to tackle the problems identified.
AB - Community forestry (CF) was set-up in Cameroon about 20 years ago to enable better environmental, economic, and social benefits for communities. Since then, 430 community forests have been attributed, covering an area of almost 1.7M ha. However, less than a quarter (10%) are in active management or enterprise. Weak institutions have been widely cited as a leading cause of poor performance in the community forestry process. This paper examines the current state of institutional deficits in Cameroon and identifies pathways for overcoming the deficits. Our analysis is based on a rigorous review of documented experiences so far. Results obtained revealed that emerging deficits revolve around form and functions. Legal; power, authority and rights; and size and biophysical potential deficits were grouped under the realm of form while resources; capacity; and governance deficits were grouped under the realm of functions. Proposed solutions to these deficits point to the need to recognize and manage inter-dependencies between challenges and corresponding potential solutions. Hence a system or integrated approach is needed to tackle the problems identified.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122624529&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tfp.2021.100173
DO - 10.1016/j.tfp.2021.100173
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85122624529
SN - 2666-7193
VL - 7
JO - Trees, Forests and People
JF - Trees, Forests and People
M1 - 100173
ER -