Stakeholder-led inventories of community-managed forests in Cameroon

The official procedure for inventories of wood resources in Cameroon's community forests raises major technical and financial problems for the communities concerned. Several studies have tested simplified approaches but have never been able to propose a satisfactory alternative to the standard inventory method, i.e., one that is more affordable financially and technically for local populations, while remaining statistically robust. This article summarises the approach and results of a stakeholder -led forest inventory that was tested in a 4,800 ha community forest with degraded forest cover. The inventory method was simplified in five ways: (1) only species sold on the domestic market were counted; (2) only trees less than two kilometres away from a forest track or river were counted; (3) only trees with a diameter greater than or equal to the minimum logging diameter were counted; (4) the inventory was carried out with voluntary customary owners only; (5) their right to customary ownership of the trees was recognised. This inventory carried out by local stakeholders identified 3,885 trees in the community forest, with a total timber volume of 19,297 m 3 . Almost all (93%) of these trees were growing in cocoa plantations. The approach is technically robust since the sampling rate is estimated at a minimum of 35%, which is much higher than the standard forest inventory rate of 2%. The inventory is also economical, costing less than <euro>0.5/ha, i.e., less than half the cost of a standard inventory. Lastly, it is socially acceptable because it makes good use of traditional knowledge, helps the community to develop logging methods that are favourable to customary owners, and thus encourages sustainability by enabling them to become the main beneficiaries of forest management. This method appears to be well suited to the context of degraded community forests, but it should also be considered for more densely wooded forests.