HOW TO OBTAIN EXPLOITATION PERMITS FOR FOREST PRODUCTS IN CAMEROON;
Regulations
As a state of laws, Cameroon has come out with regulations that enable investors to have a good and easy business climate. These regulations are tailored to obtain the general objectives of the forestry policy within the framework of integrated management, ensuring sustainable conservation and use of the said resource and the various ecosystems.
Under LAW NO. 94/01 OF 20TH JANUARY 1994 To lay Down Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Regulations, forest means any land covered by vegetation, with a predominance of trees, shrubs, and other species capable of providing products other than agricultural production.The ownership of forests and aqua cultural establishments shall be determined by the regulations governing land tenure and state lands and by the provisions of this law.
The state, local councils, village communities, and private individuals MAY exercise on their forests and aqua cultural establishments all the rights that result from the ownership, subject to restrictions laid down in the regulations governing land tenure and state lands and by the provisions of LAW NO. 94/01 OF 20TH JANUARY 1994 to lay Down Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Regulations.
Within the context of LAW NO. 94/01 OF 20TH JANUARY 1994 To lay Down Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Regulations, logging or customary right means the right which is recognized as being that of the local population to harvest all forest, wildlife, and fisheries products freely for their personal use, except the protected species.
The Minister in charge of forestry, wildlife, and fisheries may, because of public interest and in consultation with the population concerned, temporarily or permanently suspend the exercise of logging rights when necessary. Such suspension shall be done under the general regulations on expropriation because of public interest.
The conditions for exercising logging rights are laid down by decree.
Under section 86 of LAW NO. 94/01 OF 20TH JANUARY 1994 To lay Down Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Regulations, exploitation permits for firewood, poles, or lumber for small-scale processing shall be reserved solely to persons of Cameroonian nationality or to companies entirely owned or controlled by such persons. They shall each have specifications.
Exploitation permits for certain special forest produce, a list of which shall be fixed by the forestry services, shall be granted by the Minister in charge of forests after consultation with the inter-ministerial commission. This ministerial committee allots forest concessions after approval by the said committee and after a public call for tenders.
An exploitation permit for harvesting forest produce for scientific purposes shall be granted by the Minister in charge of forests, based on a technical file, according to conditions laid down by a special instrument.
Exploitation permits for lumber to be used in small-scale processing and exploitation permits for firewood or poles shall be granted by order of the competent Governor after consultation with a provincial (Regional) technical committee.
An exploitation permit’s validity period shall depend on the volume of products sold and shall be stated in the instrument granting the permit. In no case shall it exceed 1(one) year.
Where the exploiter has abided by the specification clauses, the local representative of the Minister in charge of forests (Regional Delegate) shall issue him with a certificate of verification. Otherwise, the exploiter shall be sanctioned with the laws and regulations in force.
Article by CHUO ANGABUA JUNIOR
‘’The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. We insist specialist advice be sought depending on your specific circumstance’’
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