Municipalities benefit FCFA42.5 bln from annual forestry fee

The annual forestry fee (RFA) paid to municipalities and communities living near forests in Cameroon, by logging companies, has reached a whopping FCFA 42.5 billion, sources disclosed on Friday.

According to the distribution of the fee over the period 2010-2014, 50 percent is for the state, 20 percent for the municipalities’ bank, the Special and Inter-urban Intervention Fund (FEICOM), 20 percent for forest communities, and 10 percent for local residents.

However, since 2015, this direct funding, which should, in principle, be

used for the implementation of local development projects, have been suspended.

The decision was made following protests by people living near forests, against the new RFA mode of distribution proposed in 2015 by the Ministry of Finance.

It halved the share of communities, which now receive 5 percent of the money, while the other half is allocated as a bonus to collection officers of the Directorate General of Taxation.

However, populations from forest areas argue that these funds are their most important sources of income, since they allow them to carry out local development projects and encourage them to better protect the forests.