Abstract
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks (REDD+) is gaining traction in Cameroon. However, given the deep-rooted trans-sectoral drivers of forest loss, enforcing REDD+ policies will require major policy change and reform both within and beyond the forestry sector. In this paper, we view the REDD+ policy arena in Cameroon within a political economy framework and conduct policy network analysis to explore the factors that will enable or hinder efforts to implement the broad policy change required to realize REDD+. As the REDD+ context is shaped by the history of Cameroon's forestry sector, we draw lessons for REDD+ from the forestry law reform undertaken in 1994. We focus our analysis on three factors considered necessary for REDD+ success: (i) autonomy of the nation state from interests behind deforestation and forest degradation, (ii) national ownership over reform processes, and (iii) inclusiveness of policy processes. We find that the REDD+ policy process in Cameroon is repeating the weaknesses of the earlier forestry law reform, as seen in the minimal ownership of REDD+ by national actor groups and low inclusiveness among domestic actors at both national and local levels, as well as the absence of a national coalition for REDD+. Furthermore, politics and private agendas are compromising state agencies' autonomy in making decisions about forest resources. Our findings suggest that responses to these weaknesses, as well as to inconsistencies between sectoral policies and to competition over forest resources, will determine whether REDD+ can induce change within and beyond Cameroon's forestry sector.
Highlights
Cameroon is in the early stages of a national policy process aimed at establishing policies and measures for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks, known as REDD+ (Dkamela 2011, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2011, MINEPDED 2013, Somorin et al 2014)
We argue that a comparison of these findings, in particular with regard to: autonomy from private sector interests; national ownership over the policy process; inclusiveness; and the influence of various actors within the policy domain of the ongoing REDD+ process, provide useful lessons that may be used to overcome the obstacles that have led to shortcomings in the 1994 reform process
The literature on the 1994 law over the course of 20 years reveals weak state autonomy from interests driving forest loss and highlights the prominence of unlawful activities. These findings show how the system of political patronage is intertwined with the forestry sector and how private interests prevail both in decision making and in day-to-day enforcement of regulations
Summary
Cameroon is in the early stages of a national policy process aimed at establishing policies and measures for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks, known as REDD+ (Dkamela 2011, UNFCCC 2011, MINEPDED 2013, Somorin et al 2014). The REDD+ policy process is not the first attempt to reform Cameroon’s forestry sector: a major reform was initiated in the early 1990s, with a law passed in 1994 setting out regulations on the use and management of forest and wildlife resources (Nguiffo 1994). The revision of the 1994 law aimed to address gaps in: forest management; use rights and quantity of locally processed wood; and to introduce provisions for emerging concepts such as payments for ecosystem services and conservation concessions (MINFOF 2012a). Efforts to realize REDD+ must take this context into consideration
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