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Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development
(IISD) in collaboration with The World
Bank
Vol. 129 No. 2
Thursday, 26 October 2006
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS ON THE
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF CENTRAL AFRICAN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS:
WEDNESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2006
The First International Conference of Members of the Parliament
on the Sustainable Management of Central African Forest Ecosystems
continued on Wednesday, 25 October, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. In the morning,
participants explored the conference’s
second theme “Working out strategies for monitoring and evaluating the
implementation of sub-regional biodiversity policy,” through country and
regional case studies. In the afternoon, participants divided into three working groups on
forest taxation, partnerships,
and national legislation
and international agreements. In the evening, delegates convened into
three parallel sessions to hear presentations on forest certification,
women’s participation in natural resource management and innovative tools
in forest management initiatives.
Salah Mahamat
Nour, Chad, discussed the harmonization of policies, forest legislation
and the sustainable management of transboundary resources in Chad. Nour
stressed the role of parliamentarians in implementing financial plans and
their importance as advocates for raising funds for
development.
Claus-Michael
Falkenberg, GTZ, discussed strategies for the monitoring and
evaluation of the sub-regional biodiversity policies and their
implementation. He noted the existence of clear political will for
monitoring and evaluation of policy implementation in the Central African
region, as well as operationalizing a common vision through the
Convergence Plan. Falkenburg summarized a range of monitoring and
evaluation initiatives, including activities undertaken by NGOs. Stressing
that new approaches were not necessary, he noted the need to consolidate
existing data and build upon this. He underscored that quality data
motivates continued development activities and helps donors to assess
whether financial resources are being used efficiently.
Roger Ngoufo, Cameroon Environmental Watch (CEW), outlined how his
organization seeks to contribute to setting standards and developing
forestry legislation. Highlighting methodologies for tracking
transportation of wildlife to major urban centers, he said that a
significant proportion of hunting and transportation activities were
conducted outside the legal framework. He elaborated on survey frameworks
to chart hunting activities and trace marketing networks for game,
lamenting the lack of sufficient data at control and check
points.
René Oyono, Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR),
discussed the role of the environmental legislators in Central Africa. He
drew attention to interstate violence, decentralization of forest
management and increased trade with China, factors which must be taken
into account when formulating forestry management strategies. He
underscored the necessity of legal reforms to promote local communities’
access to and ownership of forestry resources, emphasizing that
parliamentarians should be the instigators of these reforms.
Nicolas Shuku
Onemba, DRC, discussed reducing environmental impacts in forested areas,
and promoting sustainable development in Central Africa. He outlined the
legal requirement for pre-project environmental impact assessment. He
noted the need to implement SFM in the Congo Basin, pointing out forest
concessions and certification as important issues.
Angeline Ndo
Engolo Evina, National Assembly,
Cameroon, described the role that parliamentarians can play within a
multi-actor partnership, citing the case of Campo Ma’an Model Forest. She
noted the presence of conflicts due to forest concessions and the need to
promote dialogue and transparency. Ndo Engolo Evina indicated that the
innovative approach to involving stakeholders early in the process ensures
community ownership and highlights the value of forests in local, national
and international levels.
Bradley Kinder,
World Resources Institute, introduced an initiative to
monitor the environmental performance of legislative institutions. He
explained the objective was to increase accountability of parliaments and
parliamentarians to their constituents. Clement Kalonga, Malawi,
summarized the methodology of the study which involved analysis of
Handsar, papers, committee reports, engaged attendance and media
reports.
Shamisa Mtisi,
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, outlined the
findings, including that parliamentarians have limited environmental
knowledge and tend not to ask questions or debate in parliament. He noted
the constraints of the study, including poor record keeping of activities
in parliament. Mtisi outlined the next steps to engage in policy dialogue
and ensure parliamentarians understanding of their role.
Abunaw Rose
Makia, Caucus of Parliamentarians for Environment Protection, discussed
Cameroon’s experience of building capacity for effective representation of
the environment by parliamentarians. She noted that the Caucus promotes
good governance and is committed to improving the performance of the
legislative power and strengthening the relationship between
parliamentarians and their constituents. She concluded by stating that she
expects this conference will contribute to broadening the knowledge base
of parliamentarians and allow them to make concrete and informed decisions
on environmental issues.
DISCUSSION: In the ensuing discussion, participants
addressed the importance of promoting the use of impact studies and
reducing the costs. Arthur Bainomgisha, Advocates Coalition for
Development and Environment (ACODE), reiterated parliamentarians
should support the institutionalization of the Parliamentarian Caucus,
even after leaving office.
SUB-THEME 3: FINANCING MECHANISMS AND THE FIGHT AGAINST
POVERTY
Martine
Billanou, Netherlands’
Development Organization (SNV), explained the sub-theme was divided
into two issues: parliamentarians and mustering of financial resources for
the implementation of the Convergence Plan; and natural resources
conservation and the fight against poverty. She summarized SNV’s activities on forestry, good governance and
partnerships.
PARLIAMENTARIANS AND MUSTERING OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVERGENCE PLAN: Christophe Besacier, CBFP, outlined the role of parliamentarians in the
mobilization of resources for the Convergence Plan. He indicated that COMIFAC will establish a financial mechanism to
implement the Convergence Plan, which will receive governmental and
voluntary contributions. Besacier said COMIFAC also
recommended the establishment of a harmonized tax, with a percentage to be
earmarked to fund the activities under the Convergence Plan.
Shandrak Ekette
Ondoua, National Agency for the Support and Development of Forests
(ANAFOR), discussed forestry renewal strategies in Cameroon and explained
how renewal activities were being implemented by local communities and the
private sector.
Zac Tchoudjeu,
World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), indicated how local
communities were enhancing their incomes and undertaking SFM by
cultivating high-level indigenous NTFPs to address the price vulnerability
of cash crop species such as coffee and cocoa.
Karl Morrison,
WRI, introduced the study on redistribution of forest
benefits to local communities. René Oyono, CIFOR, presented the results and explained how forestry
can reduce poverty, increase involvement of stakeholders and promote
decentralization of forestry taxation. He recommended that
parliamentarians review mechanisms for managing forest royalties to
increase benefits to local communities.
Jean Marie
Mindja, African Women’s Network for Sustainable Development (REFADD), said
that REFADD facilitates the involvement of women in sustainable management
of natural resources, and underlined strategies that were related to the
Convergence Plan and the exploitation of NTFPs.
Divine Foundjem,
ICRAF, presented an innovative approach to conservation
and management of natural resources for poverty alleviation, which
mobilizes farmers to sell NTFPs, enhances their negotiating skills and
enables them to develop viable market strategies. Highlighting the
constraints faced by farmers in marketing NTFPs including poor
organization, limited market knowledge and inadequate storage facilities,
he emphasized the need to promote partnerships between farmers and
traders.
Senator William
Mu Nyembabazi, Burundi, and Salvador Ndabirorere, Enviro-Protec, Burundi,
presented joint projects against poverty in Burundi. Senator William Mu
Nyembabazi underscored the need to reconcile development and sustainable
management, involving all stakeholders and promoting partnerships for
carrying out socially and environmentally friendly activities to combat
poverty. Ndabirorere said that Enviro-Protec focuses on promoting
environmental education, awareness and stakeholder participation to
promote conservation, sustainable management of natural resources, as well
as fighting against poverty.
In the ensuing
discussion delegates discussed the possibilities of compensating local
communities for conservation of forests and for the use of NTFPs, the
national adjustments needed for implementing the Convergence Plan and the
importance of financial resources for carrying out SFM
activities.
WORKING GROUPS
NATIONAL LEGISLATION: Moderated by Bofaya
Botaka-Baende, DRC, this working group met to consider national
legislation, sub-regional initiatives and international conventions. After
deliberating at length on the definitions of terms, the group identified
sub-regional initiatives for forest management such as COMIFAC, AFLEG, and FLEG. Questioning whether these initiatives contributed
to the implementation of the Convergence Plan, delegates drew attention to
the treaty ratification status of COMIFAC,
lamenting that few countries had ratified it and called for a
recommendation that the process be fast- tracked. Regarding the role of
parliamentarians in the implementation of national legislation and
conventions, participants raised the issue of consistency of forestry
legislation with land tenure laws, addressing the fact that national and
sub-regional laws did not always reflect the provisions of international
conventions.
FOREST TAXATION: Moderated by Timothee Fomete Nembot,
Cameroon, the Forest Taxation working group discussed the impact of
taxation on SFM, mechanisms to collect and redistribute taxes, and the
elaboration of an action plan for parliamentarians to make better use of
budgets. Debate focused on the issue of Cameroon Annual Forestry Fees
(RFA) and the role of parliamentarians. Fomete Nembot summarized the three
recommendations from the deliberations. The first recommended increased
sharing of information amongst parliamentarians on the modalities of
taxation legislation with regard to local and sustainable development. The
second involved increasing the capacity for parliamentarians to use tax
revenues efficiently for local development. The third, specific to
Cameroon, recommended updating the legal framework to involve
parliamentarians in local governance of tax revenue.
PARLIAMENTARIANS AND
PARTNERSHIPS: The session on parliamentarians and partnerships for sustainable
development of forest resources was moderated by Matsemba Appohinaire,
Gabon, with Salvador Ndabirorere, Enviro-Protec, Burundi, acting as
rapporteur. Appohinaire highlighted the group’s mandate to discuss: the
elements of a list of partners to work with the parliamentarians; an
action plan for promoting partnership among parliamentarians and other
actors; obstacles and opportunities for REPAR-CEFDHAC to promote
partnerships with other identified actors; the ways to assess partnership
opportunities among REPAR-CEFDHAC, GLOBE, CBFP, donors, and other relevant organizations; and obstacles and
opportunities to link development and partnerships for promoting SFM.
Delegates debated the appropriate methodology, strategy and format to
obtain such outcomes. A few delegates highlighted the need to identify the
indicators for the list of partners. There was a general consensus within
the group that social, political, technical and scientific partners need
to be identified at all levels. Several delegates suggested such partners
should assist in implementing the Convergence
Plan.
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