COMMITMENT SCENARIOS IDENTIFIED WITHIN MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PLATFORMS, BASED ON A SCIENTIFIC DIAGNOSIS
50%
of endangered plant species in mountain and forest ecosystem hotspots
- 128,000HA
annual loss of vegetation cover since 2018
THREATS
Source: threat assessment study
Cameroon's biodiversity is one of the most varied and diversified in Africa, both in terms of the variety and quantity of ecosystems and genetic resources. Indeed, the country has a high degree of endemism. It is home to 92% of the continent's ecosystems and almost half of its bird and mammal species. Cameroon is home to the second largest forest in the Congo Basin, with 45% of its territory covered by forest.
Through the services it provides to populations, it is recognized that local biodiversity contributes to the well-being of inhabitants, to the supply of various products such as food and medicinal plants, and to the key role played by ecosystems in climate regulation, flood control, drought management, etc.
In recent years, the intensification of economic activities and demographic growth have amplified the anthropization of environments. This has led to a significant deterioration in Cameroon's biodiversity. The unsustainable exploitation of resources and their over-exploitation, changing socio-economic conditions and urban development are leading to major changes in the use of maritime and terrestrial areas.
In Cameroon, the multi-stakeholder dialogue took the form of exchanges between WWF and representatives of the public sector and the Groupement inter-patronal du Cameroun (GICAM). A feedback workshop was organized to present the notion of voluntary commitment to the members of the IPBES platform, as well as the main results of the Diagnosis 2 study on the in-depth assessment of the impact of the agricultural and infrastructure sectors on the country's biodiversity.
The process did not validate the avenues for voluntary commitment identified in Diagnosis 2, but the commitment scenarios were presented to the stakeholders.
Options chosen and scenarios discussed
Agriculture
Agriculture Private :
- Implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP)
- Conservation of High Conservation Value areas
- Promoting organic farming and organic fertilization
- Controlled and appropriate use of plant protection products
- Carbon and biodiversity financing
- Reforestation
Audience:
- Implementing a zero deforestation policy
- Introduction of legal measures to combat illegal timber and encourage companies to take action to preserve biodiversity.
- Implementation of projects to restore mangroves and protect marine areas
- Strengthen the monitoring and evaluation system for ESMPs
- Reinforcing anti-wildlife trafficking measures
- Strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems in high-risk areas
DIAG2 also emphasizes the responsibility of civil society and representatives of local and indigenous communities in promoting good agricultural practices.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure Public
- Encourage national political authorities and private-sector managers to take biodiversity aspects into account in all their investment and operating projects.
- Do not start an infrastructure project until all financing has been secured, to avoid site suspensions/contract terminations.
- Strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems for ESMPs
Private
- Introducing adapted fish species to dam lakes
- Wastewater recycling and rainwater harvesting
DIAG2 also highlights the responsibility of civil society and representatives of local and indigenous communities in raising awareness of the environmental impacts of infrastructure projects.
The scenarios identified during the dialogue process are the same as the solutions envisaged for the agricultural (rubber, palm oil, mixed food crops) and infrastructure (ports, roads, dams) sectors.