La gtz/giz et la problématique de l’aménagement forestier au Cameroun (1992-2022)

Abstract

Cameroon in its quest for development has opted for the diversification of partners, among which Germany figures prominently. The Federal Republic of Germany is a Cameroon’s historic partner which brings its technical assistance to Cameroon through GTZ, which becomes GIZ in 2011. This technical cooperation is based on three priority domains: rural development, good governance and environmental protection, and forests. We have chosen to analyze the relevance and effectiveness of this cooperation in the field of forest protection, hence our subject: “GTZ/GIZ and the issue of forest management in Cameroon (1992-2022)”. We carried out this study from an approach that is both qualitative and quantitative, based on the analytic method, whose analytical grids are based on the theories of sustainable development, environmental governance, and socio-ecological systems. This study was made possible by documentary research in various places, but also by the help of informants. At the end of this research, it appears that the efforts deployed in Cameroon by GTZ/GIZ since 1992 have made it possible to involve rural populations in forest management, strengthen the capacities of the government and forest stakeholders, improve the legal and regulatory framework for national forestry, reduce anthropic pressure in the forests and lay the foundations for ecotourism in Cameroon; in short, to contribute to forest management in Cameroon. In short, GTZ/GIZ to contribute to sustainable management and forest governance in Cameroon. However, some limitations were noted in the action of GTZ / GIZ in Cameroon. These include, among other things, poor communication, poor involvement of the populations and the failure to take into account the various social components. However, with more aggressive communication and increased involved of local populations in the different phases of projects and programs, their results will improve. The Cameroonian government should capitalize on the achievements of these projects and draw inspiration from these intervention models to apply in other region of the country.