Legal framework

Following the Rio de Janeiro Conference of 1992, the Government of Cameroon signed the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993.

A new forestry law was promulgated in January 1994 to lay down forestry and wildlife regulations. This law is based on the principle that Cameroon’s forest resources are unique and that they should be managed and exploited sustainably. Moreover, the new forestry policy explicitly recognises the unique importance of biodiversity for Cameroon and for the world as a whole and thus gives a high priority to the conservation of this heritage.

The new forestry law acknowledges the existence of two forest categories: permanent forests and non permanent forests. It also allows for the creation of communal forests and community forests & wildlife management areas, that belong to the first category (gazetted forests) and to the second (non-gazetted forests), respectively.

Introduction
Legal Framework
Objectives of the Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation and Management Programme
Partners of the Programme
Operational structure
Consultation and management bodies