Traditional rulers present position on forestry law

Traditional rulers, under the umbrella of the Cameroon National Council of Traditional Rulers, CNCTR, drawn from the 10 regions of Cameroon, have submitted copies of a document containing their position on why the revised draft law on forestry and wildlife regulations should be adopted.

The proposal ratified during a workshop by the traditional rulers and indigenous leaders in Yaounde on November 19, was submitted to the Ministers of Forestry and Wildlife and Mines and Technological Development, as well as to the President of the Senate on November 20.

Stating that their commitment in the forestry law reform process has taken them 10 months, the traditional rulers told the officials in the document that the initial idea came from the Traditional Rulers Network for the Sustainable Management of Ecosystems in Central Africa, ECTRAD, and the Network of Traditional Rulers for Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Management of the Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem.

Highlighting what they have been doing since then, the traditional rulers recalled that the law governing Cameroon’s forestry, wildlife and fisheries sector was enacted in 1994 and that since 2008, Government embarked on the revision of the law whose draft was submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office in December 2012.

They hold that, due to “massive domestic and foreign investments,” laws bordering on the natural resources sector in the country under revision, “are very promising but they also involve major risks for people depending on the lands solicited.

It is therefore crucial that traditional rulers, through their traditional institutions, get mobilised to make their voices heard and contribute to the decisions that will enable the Cameroonian population to make the most out of this historic moment.”

Remarking that the issue of community rights is a constant concern for traditional authorities, the authors of the document talked of achievements in the draft law to be preserved; areas that need improvement; the link between their proposal and land tenure and expected objections.

Going by the draft law, the achievements, according to the traditional rulers, include the recognition of the rights of the communities to own lands and resources it contains, establishment of land titles in the name of the said communities as well as the management of those lands in compliance with customary rules.

In addition to the achievements that need to be preserved, the four areas that require improvements include recognising the ownership of all the villages of Cameroon on land and resources; ensuring the consistency between forest sector regulations and other related regulations and enhancing the efficiency of land use and resources.

The nature and extent of rights of minorities and disadvantaged groups in land and resource management as it is expected to appear in the collective land title to communities, must be clearly stated.

Anticipating objections to some of their proposals, the traditional rulers were quick to proffer solutions. On the likely complaint that providing land and forest to villages would deprive the State of resources, the traditional rulers argue that it would benefit villages as the scope to ensure their subsistence would be expanded.

On the fact that surrendering lands to villages would slow down development actions of the State, and that traditional rulers are not able to properly manage the forest, the custodians of the tradition were quick to provide answers. They hold that their initiative would rather contribute to strengthening the State, since it falls in line with decentralisation and the need for communities to be empowered.

Talking to the press after the audiences, Chief William Ndong Tchombe of Canton Adie Bakoko, said their move is to get the authorities consider their proposals and push for the study and adoption of the draft law lying at the PM’s Office since December 2012. He said their visit to the officials was not marked by any debates on the proposal.

On the other hand, Chief Robinson Tanyi of Tinto said aspects of the forestry, land and mining law are expected to be harmonised at the PM’s Office as he called on the officials to understand the concern of the traditional rulers that has to do with the rights of local communities.

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji, lauded the initiative of the traditional rulers promising that the Senate would study their proposals.