Forest Conservation and Management Practices in Cameroon: Case Study of Bimbia-Bonadikombo Community Forest and Takamanda National Park A thesis approved by the Faculty of Environment and Natural Sciences at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Sciences By Regina Edawa Nyambi Anaka Master of Science From Momo-Division, Northwest Region, Cameroon Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. (NMU Dnepropetrovsk) Michael Schmidt Supervisor: Prof. Dr.iur. Eike Albrecht th Day of the oral examination: 25 October 2018 DECLARATION I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my original research carried out at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany within the framework of the International Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) program in Environmental and Resources Management. I hereby admit that this dissertation has never been submitted in whole or in part for a degree at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany or elsewhere. References to other people’s research have been duly cited and acknowledged accordingly in this work. ___________________________________ Regina Edawa Nyambi Anaka, Date of Signature i DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my kids; Anongka Anaka, Mandi Anaka and David Anaka, and to my beloved husband Divine Asoh Anaka, who have been a constant source of inspiration and support during the most challenging moments of my Ph.D. studies. I also dedicate this work to my mentor and late brother Prof. Dr. Phillipe Nyambi (RIP) for his moral and financial support throughout my academic career. Lastly, this dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Mr. Nyambi Moses and Mrs. Nyambi Rose for their constant love and financial assistance throughout my academic life. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENT Firstly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my first supervisor, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. (NMU Dnepropetrovsk) Michael Schmidt for his continuous support throughout my Ph.D. studies. I am very grateful for his motivation, patience and immense knowledge especially during the internal Ph.D. colloquium. His guidance and support significantly helped me in course of this research. I would also like to express special appreciation to my second supervisor Prof. Dr. iur. Eike Albrecht for supervising this thesis. In addition to my supervisors, I would like to express special thanks to the manager of Bimbia- Bonadikombo community forest, Mr. Ivo Mbongaya Arrey for his valuable assistance during the field research. A special thanks to the Takamanda National Park Conservator, Mr. Walter Ashu Egbe for his assistance during the research period. I would especially like to thank my field research assistants, Mr. Samuel Ashu Etah, Mr. John Arrey Tabi, Mr. Ekoko Benjamin, and Mr. Paul Mbua Mondoa who were never tired of moving from one village community to another. Special thanks to my colleagues at the Ph.D. departmental colloquium for their contributions to this thesis. My sincere gratitude goes to Dr. Terence Onang Egute for his academic and moral support throughout my Ph.D. studies. His valuable comments helped me to improve this dissertation. A special thank you goes to Dr. Dimity Palekhov and Dr. Brite Seffert for their valuable comments during this Ph.D. thesis. I would like to express gratitude to my siblings and entire family for providing me with moral support throughout my Ph.D. studies. I owe a special thank you to my brother-in-law Anaka Benjamin, my friend Rose Fru and to my cousin Mrs. Emelienne Enghewo Egute, who supported me morally while in Germany. Special thanks to my kids Anongka Anaka, Mandi Anaka and David Anaka for their perseverance in my absence, especially during my extended stay in Germany. I immensely appreciate my beloved husband, Mr. Anaka Divine, who spent sleepless nights with our kids in my absence and was my support in moments of dire need. Thank you ABSTRACTchallenges during my Ph.D. studies. iii ABSTRACT Cameroon’s forest is one of the richest ecosystems in the Congo Basin and in Africa as a whole in terms of its biodiversity. This rich biodiversity status can be attributed to the country’s stable wet, cold and sometimes dry weather conditions. The forest ecosystem is characterized by different forest types including lowland evergreen, and semi-deciduous, montane and sub-montane forests. These forest types are currently subjected to multiple categories of threats including but not limited to pressures from the local communities living adjacent them. By enacting a new forestry law in 1994, the government of Cameroon intended to intensify efforts toward the protection and conservation of this rich biodiversity by creating protected areas and increasing local community participation for a sustainable management of forest resources. However, misunderstanding, misinterpretation and poor implementation of the forestry law has rather stirred illegal exploitation of resources. This study aimed to compare two forest management systems, a state management system (the case of Takamanda National Park) and a community-based management system (the case of Bimbia- Bonadikombo Community Forest), to determine which management system better conserves and protects the forest against biodiversity loss. The study applied a methodological framework that made use of selected indicators and criteria to evaluate the extent of sustainability of the two forest management systems and challenges faced in implementing them. Both quantitative and qualitative results were realized through the administration of questionnaires, semi-structure interview and in-depth contents analysis of Law No.94-1 of 20th January 1994 that lays down forestry, wildlife and fisheries regulations and the 1996 Environmental Management Law that directs Cameroon’s compliance to the international standard of protecting the environment. Results indicated that community-based system of forest management is a much more sustainable approach of forest management than a state management system. Based on the criterion of cultural values attributed to natural resources in the community based management zone (Bimbia- Bonadikombo Community Forest), 78.2% of the local communities were more willing to protect biodiversity (e.g. reduce their activities, adopt alternative practices, collect and use resource wisely from this areas etc.), as opposed to 48.3% from state management zone (Takamanda National Park), where people are totally restricted from the use of protected area with no alternatives. This iv study found that the level of participation in the community-based management system was much more inclusive and transparent and encourage the active contribution of community members in the management process. On the other hand, in the state management system, a high level of corruption, lack of transparency, delayed and irregular salaries of forest guards and minimal participation of local communities in forest management decision-making was noted and likely responsible for the ineffectiveness and unsustainable management efforts in this system. Irrespective of the forest management system, results indicated that sustainable management remains a big problem in both study areas, and is challenged by several factors including weak forest governance, poor implementation of forestry laws, inadequate access to public information and lack of alternative means of livelihood that could improve the wellbeing of the people living around these areas. The study recommends the adoption and implementation of a more inclusive, transparent and accountable management in the state managed system (Takamada national park), particularly the full involvement of respected Elites, Chiefs and Traditional Councils. It recommends further, continuous environmental campaigns and sensitization to keep custodians and all stakeholders involved in the management of both areas (Takamanda and Bimbia- Bonadikombo) reminded of the values of this ecosystem and the need to conserve and protect them. Finally, to achieve sustainability in both management systems, alternative sources of food and income and additional capacity to achieve sustainable management objectives at all levels are urgently needed. Keywords: Conservation Management, Sustainable Management, Biodiversity, Community- Based Forest Management, State Forest Management, Cameroon, Bimbia-Bonadikombo Community Forest, Takamanda National Park v Table of Contents DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ i DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................................................. iii ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. iv Table of Contents......................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xiv List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. xv List of Plates .............................................................................................................................