Forest Community Integration and Collective Agency in Korup National Park, Cameroon: Interactions with Forest Policies and the REDD+ Mechanism by Adam E. Flanery A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Geography College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida St. Petersburg Major Professor: Richard Mbatu, Ph.D. Rebecca Johns, Ph.D. Dona Stewart, Ph.D. Date of Approval: July 1, 2016 Keywords: Community Forestry, Forest Conservation, Agro-industry, Africa, Institutional Analysis, Political Ecology Copyright © 2016, Adam E. Flanery Acknowledgements I’m extremely grateful to my thesis advisor, Dr. Richard Mbatu, for his guidance, and funding through his university start-up grant, without which the research could not have taken place. Dr. Mbatu’s skills conducting fieldwork in rural Africa, and his connections with people in the Korup area and professionals in Yaoundé were also essential. I’m indebted to the generosity of his family, many of whom graciously provided lodging and meals during the trip. I deeply appreciate the assistance of the other two members of my thesis committee, Dr. Dona Stewart and Dr. Rebecca Johns. They have given invaluable feedback and direction, as well as support and personal advice for navigating graduate school. My gratitude goes out to all the participants in the study, who volunteered their time and patience to take part. I would also like to extend my thanks to Chief Ekokola of Esukutan Village for his help in conducting the fieldwork, and the hospitality of his family. Finally, I appreciate the support and encouragement of my parents. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................................ vii Abstract ................................................................................................................................x Chapter 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................1 1.1. Background .......................................................................................................1 1.2. Problem Statement ............................................................................................4 1.3. Need for Research .............................................................................................7 1.4. Objectives .........................................................................................................9 1.5. Conceptual Framework .....................................................................................9 1.5.1. Community ........................................................................................9 1.5.2. Research Questions ..........................................................................12 1.5.3. Dimensions of Agency .....................................................................18 1.6 Hypotheses .......................................................................................................20 Chapter 2. Literature Review .............................................................................................22 2.1. Contextual Overview ......................................................................................22 2.1.1. Cameroon and its History in the Forestry Context ..........................22 2.1.1.1. The 1994 Law ...................................................................28 2.1.2. Cameroon and REDD+ ....................................................................35 2.1.2.1. REDD+ Overview .............................................................36 2.1.2.2. REDD+ in the Regional Context ......................................40 2.1.2.3. Status of REDD+ in Cameroon ........................................43 2.2. Analysis at multiple societal scales.................................................................47 2.2.1. Community forestry and REDD+ ....................................................49 Chapter 3. Methodology ....................................................................................................53 3.1. Study Site ........................................................................................................53 3.1.1. Southwest Region ............................................................................53 3.1.2. Korup National Park and Surrounding Area ....................................56 3.1.3. Study Villages ..................................................................................59 3.2. Field Research Methods ..................................................................................62 3.2.1. Field Research Schedule ..................................................................65 3.2.2. Survey Methods ..............................................................................67 3.2.3. Interview Methods ...........................................................................72 3.2.4. Ethnographic Methods .....................................................................75 i 3.3. Methods of Analysis .......................................................................................76 Chapter 4. Results ..............................................................................................................82 4.1. Heterogeneity and Integration .........................................................................89 4.1.1. Roles of the Major Demographic Groups as Actors within Each Community. ................................................................................89 4.1.1.1. Gender ...............................................................................89 4.1.1.2. Age group..........................................................................92 4.1.1.3. Place of origin ...................................................................94 4.1.2. Heterogeneity. ..................................................................................97 4.1.2.1. Gender .............................................................................102 4.1.2.2. Age group........................................................................102 4.1.2.3. Place of origin .................................................................102 4.1.2.4. Occupation ......................................................................104 4.1.2.5. Education ........................................................................104 4.1.2.6. Land tenure .....................................................................105 4.1.2.7. Location within the village .............................................107 4.1.2.8. Religion ...........................................................................109 4.1.2.9. Clan group .......................................................................109 4.1.3. Integration and Segregation ...........................................................112 4.1.3.1. Occupation and level of education ..................................115 4.1.3.2. Land tenure, within-village location, and religious identification ..........................................................................127 4.2. Agency and REDD+ .....................................................................................133 4.2.1. Understandings ..............................................................................135 4.2.1.1. Understandings of the forest ...........................................135 4.2.1.2. Knowledge and understandings of forest policies ..........139 Community forestry ...............................................................139 Industrial agriculture ..............................................................140 Forest conservation ................................................................141 REDD+ ..................................................................................143 4.2.2. Attitudes .........................................................................................144 4.2.2.1. Community forestry ........................................................144 4.2.2.2. Industrial agriculture .......................................................145 4.2.2.3. REDD+ and conservation ...............................................146 4.2.3. Empowerment ................................................................................152 4.2.3.1. Local decision-making institutions .................................152 4.2.3.2. Forest access and usage ..................................................154 4.2.3.3. Decision-making involvement ........................................155 Chapter 5. Discussion ......................................................................................................156 5.1. Relationship of Integration to Collective Agency ........................................156 5.2. Implications for REDD+ ...............................................................................160 5.2.1. Forest conservation ........................................................................161 5.2.1.1. Conservation, development, and livelihood restrictions ..............................................................................162 ii 5.2.1.2. Local participation