Community Forest Enterprises in TNS and TRIDOM as a Model Unit for an Emission Reduction Program in Cameroon

Transcription

1 Community Forest Enterprises in TNS and TRIDOM as a Model Unit for an Emission Reduction Program in Cameroon INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE CAMEROON PROGRAMME Briefing Note : October 2017 Introduction Like most landscapes in Cameroon, TNS and TRIDOM contain community controlled areas. These include community forests, community hunting zones and agroforestry bands. The most common are community forests. These areas permit communities to participate in the management of forests and other resources, alongside the state and other stakeholders. Diverse activities are carried out in community controlled areas to sustain livelihoods. However, these interventions usually have significant impacts on natural resources, including deforestation and land and forest degradation. The Community Forest Enterprise Model within TNS and TRIDOM is an attempt to reconcile environment and forest conservation and improved livelihoods of forestdependent communities. The precarious living conditions of local populations within these landscapes and the high rates of deforestation in this agro-ecological zone constitute the major impetus to develop this model. Figure 1 shows the current management system of community controlled areas in TNS and TRIDOM. Figure 2: Model development Sites (TRIDOM and TNS) Community Forest Enterprises in TNS and TRIDOM as a Model Unit for an Emission Reduction Program in Cameroon Page 1

2 The objective of the model is to propose a sustainable development approach that can reduce deforestation and forest degradation, while improving the living conditions of the populations within and bordering TNS and TRIDOM landscapes. Methodology The model was developed via a participatory and systematic approach which included: Analysis of drivers of deforestation and forest degradation within both landscapes Identification and prioritization of options to address identified drivers Identification and prioritization of community revenue sources using the forest poverty linkages toolkit Participatory mapping of community areas; land use classification and developing land use maps Identification of pilot livelihood enhancing actions and demonstration of these actions Follow-up, monitoring, evaluation and documentation Data for all stages were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected in 08 villages of TRIDOM (Efoulan I and II, Adjap, Ando'o, Djadom, Massea, Grebe and Assoumdele), 05 villages of TNS (Mambele - Mbandjani, Yenga Center not far from Moloundou, Mboli, Lavie and Wélélé), and the districts of Djoum, Mintom and Ngoyla. The populations of these target villages were consulted both individually and through focus group discussions, using interview guides and semi-structured questionnaires. In addition to collecting data from local populations, interviews were also conducted with some 20 resource persons from civil society organizations, including WWF, ZYL (Zerca Y Lejos), the member organizations of the network of Southeast nongovernmental organizations (ROSE), the conservators of Lobeke and Nki National Parks, administrators of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, the focal points of the national REDD+ civil society platform based in Ngoyla, Djoum and Yokadouma councils. Three villages in TNS (Lavie, Welele and Mboli) and two in TRIDOM (Efoulan and Otong-mbong) were selected to implement prioritized livelihood enhancing actions (sustainable agriculture using agroforestry techniques and valorization of fallow lands and sustainable beekeeping). Twenty (20) beneficiaries were selected to implement improved agriculture in fallow lands of 0.5 ha per plot. The sustainable beekeeping demonstration activities targeted four indigenous (Baka) villages two in TRIDOM (Adjap and Ando'o) and two in TNS Cameroon (Yenga and Mbangué). Fifty (50) indigenous beneficiaries including 21 women were selected for this action. Secondary data were obtained from reports of IUCN studies, WWF activity reports and other documents produced by the different councils concerned, such as council development plans, village monographic studies, simple community forest management plans, community forest and community hunting group activity reports from TNS and TRIDOM. The Market Analysis and Development approach (AeDM) served as an analytical framework for the development of the entrepreneurial component of the model. Other data were analyzed using the Excel software. Vision and Principles The model promotes the development of local businesses for the benefit of communities in order to generate more income that would significantly promote local sustainable development. The model is based on four principles: Participation of all multi-sectoral stakeholders, gender and indigenous people; Diversification of individual and community sources of income; Mobilizing public and private funds for the development of income-generating enterprises whilst respecting environmental, social and institutional standards; Good governance for natural resource management. Good governance for natural resource management. Community Forest Enterprises in TNS and TRIDOM as a Model Unit for an Emission Reduction Program in Cameroon Page 2

3 Model presentation The model consists of four main segments (figure 3): community-controlled areas, community-identified livelihood enhancing options to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, individual and community businesses, local development and improvement of the standard of living of populations. The model is based on management and enterprise development around community forests and community hunting zones. Funds from community forests within the area are managed by the community forest management committee (COGES). Funds from community hunting zones are managed by the committee for valorizing wildlife resources (COVAREF) and agroforestry bands are non-permanent forest areas managed by villagers for subsistence agriculture. Prefeasibility study of commercial chain for exploitation of wood in the CODDUMA community forest Three types of markets are targeted in exploitation of wood from the CODDUMA community forest: the urban market, the local market and the international market. Consumers include both builders, carpentry and industrial joinery. The latter category transforms wood into furniture and adds value to it before offering it to other end consumers. Analysis of the market based on basic entrepreneurial factors at local and end-market level indicates that the Profit Objective (OP), that is the expected revenue of the CODDUMA FC for the year 2015 was OP = FCFA. The profit per wood for the community forest is 1500 FCFA for Pieces of wood. Thus CODDUMA needs to make an annual offer on the market of 11,421 pieces of lumber to reach its OP of 17,132,000 francs, which can be re-invested in implementation of assessed livelihood enhancing options to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. To achieve this, there are important prerequisites: Obtaining a permit to exploit the desired volume; The existence of potential for a single CF; The possibility of obtaining the desired volume by associating several CFs; The acquisition of a motorized sawing machine (mobile saw) or other adapted machinery; The opening of exploitation tracks in community forest; The cost of renting a truck or its purchase for the transportation of wood; Labor compensation costs for different levels of processing; The training of staff in charge of exploitation; The connection of the local association with the lumber markets, among others. It is possible to support community forest enterprises to achieve annual development goals. This requires: Supporting communities with adapted equipment such as the Lucas Mill which will be the major input for the success of the model. Setting up a management system for enterprise equipment that will generate funds for maintenance. For CODDUMA and ASDEBYM community forests, WWF has agreed to provide storage for these equipments. These equipments will be rented by community forests against a very low rental fee, but sufficient to serve as maintenance funds for the equipment to ensure sustainability. Specific capacity building actions: support for the development of management manuals, monitoring, technical strengthening in production and organization, accounting etc. Community Forest Enterprises in TNS and TRIDOM as a Model Unit for an Emission Reduction Program in Cameroon Page 3

4 Figure3: Community Forest Enterprise Model within TNS and Figure3: Community Forest Enterprise Model within TNS and For both indigenous and non-indigenous communities within both landscapes, community forests and community hunting zones are the major sources of community income. However, sustainable and equitable sharing of benefits arising from management remains a challenge. Whilst some communities feel that most of the benefits are shared among members of the management committees, the latter is of the impression that their efforts in supporting management of these community areas are not well appreciated. The community forest enterprise model proposes to reinvest funds from management of community controlled areas in funding assessed livelihood enhancing options to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. Thus, instead of using funds from management of community forests and community hunting zones to build community halls and prepare for festivals, these funds will support other income generating activities at both community and individual levels. Scenario 1: reinvestments in community projects as revolving funds via a grant system. Within this scenario, benefits from the management of community forests are reinvested in community livelihood enhancing projects such as community farms, common initiative groups (CIGs) such as NTFP collection groups, farmers, bee keepers etc.). Community Forest Enterprises in TNS and TRIDOM as a Model Unit for an Emission Reduction Program in Cameroon Page 4

5 CIGs obtain this support in the form of a grant (in installments, based on convincing work progress) upon presentation of a business plan and approval by the COGES and COVAREF. Benefits from implementing livelihood enhancing options are then shared equally among group members after sale of produce and after saving the initial grant amount. Scenario 2: reinvestments in individual projects as revolving funds via a loan system. Within this scenario, individuals are supported to implement assessed livelihood enhancing options upon presentation and of a business plan and approval by the COGES and COVAREF. The interest rate for the loan would vary with communities. These are guided by clear principles and conditions, including adhering to village disciplinary committees and the local administration. Both scenarios will lead to reduced pressure on forest resources, sustained livelihoods and development of the local community. Sustainability of community forest enterprise model The management of community controlled areas will generate funding for implementing livelihood enhancing options for a three-ended benefit: reduced pressure on forest resources, sustained livelihoods and development of the local community. Thus, livelihood improvement options will need to be developed in a way that combines economic, social and environmental benefits. The suggested management and partnership structure is shown in figure 3. Community Forest Enterprises in TNS and TRIDOM as a Model Unit for an Emission Reduction Program in Cameroon Page 5

6 Financial mechanism Funding for this model shall be internal (mobilized within the community concerned), local (mobilized within decentralized administrative structures, decentralized local authorities and local elected representatives) and external (provided by partners outside the community or region such national and international development partners). (see figure 4). Internal funds shall be generated from management of community forests and community hunting zones, interest from loans granted to individual projects, individual contributions from community members and/or elite contributions. For example, the indigenous community forest in Yenga can generate up to 2,250,000 FCFA/year. These revenues would be reinvested in livelihood enhancing activities. The COVAREF mobilize on average FCFA for COVAREF N 1 and FCFA for COVAREF N 2 per year which can also be reinvested in other options of the model. Local funding shall be generated through partnerships with sectoral ministries in charge of agriculture, environment, fishing and livestock, forestry etc. These ministries have budgets assigned to local development activities and could integrate model options within their annual budgets. Elected officials sometimes receive funds for local projects, which can be support implementation of certain activities within the model. External funding can be provided by technical and financial partners (TFPs) and the private sector, in the form of grants or loans. Some technical and financial partners have already been identified, including WWF, IUCN, FTNS, PNDP, World Bank, GIZ, KFW, African Development Bank, RAPAC, EU, etc. Many local NGOs are also in contact with these TFPs and can help mobilize this funding. REDD+ financing is also an opportunity to explore, especially if carbon impact can be demonstrated. Implementation of the model within the emission reduction program (ERP) is being considered as an option in the on-going ERPD development process. At the level of the private sector, companies in the forestry and mining sector offer, as part of their specifications, a large amount of funding that is geared towards local development. Banking and microfinance institutions have also been identified as institutions to provide repayable loans. Conclusion TNS and TRIDOM landscapes are important biological, forest and carbon clusters, home to indigenous and local communities in forest areas and attractions for various natural resource exploitation schemes. The model seeks to ensure environmental and social sustainability by promoting economic and ecological entrepreneurship around community forests, community hunting zones and agroforestry strips, and is based on the valuation of wood and nontimber forest products, agroforestry, livestock production and beekeeping among other options that could be identified as livelihood enhancing. The implementation of this model will help strengthen local entrepreneurial and institutional capacities and help secure community land. It will also reduce the loss of forest cover in TNS and TRIDOM landscapes, improve forest carbon stocks and boost local economic development. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature Cameroon Program Office P.O. Box 5506 Yaounde, Bastos Tel Fax cameroun@iucn.org With funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) In partnership with Inades-Formation Community Forest Enterprises in TNS and TRIDOM as a Model Unit for an Emission Reduction Program in Cameroon Page 6