Climate-sensitive management of forest resources

Forest Environment Climate Project

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  • Client

    German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

  • Country
  • Political sponsors

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  • Runtime

    2023 to 2024

  • Products and expertise

    Climate, environment, natural resource management

A woman pouring nuts into a machine for the processing of non-timber forest products. Copyright: GIZ / Uli Caspary

Context

Cameroon has rich and diverse forest ecosystems. They are vital for the livelihoods of the rural population and the country’s economy. At the same time, the forests are threatened by factors such as population growth, an increasing demand for wood for energy purposes, expanding agricultural activities, logging, infrastructure expansion, illegal activities and bush fires.

The forest sector suffers from a shortage of qualified and trained personnel. In addition, women and the indigenous population face discrimination in the management of natural resources, and are not adequately considered in the use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs).

Cameroon’s Government has classed the use of forests and wood as a strategically important area in its National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (NDS30). In this strategy, it also recognises the significance of good governance when it comes to structurally transforming the economy and improving the employment situation.

A man using a watering can to water young plants in a tree nursery for forest plantations. Copyright: GIZ / Alexander Schuecke

Objective

The management of Cameroon’s environmental resources, especially its forest resources, is environmentally friendly and climate-sensitive.

Approach

The project supports the sustainable management of forest resources based on the principle of ‘conservation through utilisation’. It focuses on:

  • Activities relating to the use of forest resources and biodiversity in communities, to promote the sustainable and inclusive management of forest resources.
  • Promoting value chains for non-timber forest products for the benefit of the vulnerable local population.
  • Improving the conditions for wood use, to encourage efficient, environmentally sensitive and climate-sensitive use of industrial wood residues from sawmills.
  • Environmental education to increase levels of appreciation for natural resources, climate action and environmental protection, in order to restore landscapes and forests and to conserve biodiversity.

Last update: May 2023

Zwei Männer sortieren lange Holzbalken, um Sägewerksabfälle zur Herstellung von Holzkohle zu verwerten. Copyright: GIZ / ProFEC

Additional information

Project: Forests4Future: Giving forests a future (giz.de)

Project: Restoring forest landscapes in Africa

Project: Promoting responsible land policy worldwide (giz.de)

Country page: Cameroon (giz.de)