Community-based stock assessment and monitoring system (CB-SAMS) for non-wood forest products in community forests in Cameroon: a methodological guide

In 1995, the Government of Cameroon enacted an innovative policy to decentralize the management of its forests, and promote greater participation by local communities and indigenous groups. The purpose of the policy was to improve community livelihoods through increased access to, and benefits from, greater and m ore system atic use of a diverse range of forest resources besides tim ber. Since introductio n of this policy, m echanism s proposed and used in comm unit y forests, added no value either to indigenous practices s eeking to build local capacity or to the natural asset base in long-term forest management for multiple objectives. In order to support government policy and develop an agroforestry strategy for protected areas in which communities can adapt the management of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) to their livelihoods, the World Agroforestry Centre em barked on a low-cost, process-driven assessment and monitoring system for non-wood forest products. The process is built on indigenous knowledge, capacities, and practices that em power local users in resource accountability. It solicits very wide local participation and facilitates integration of scientific and local knowledge and methods. This paper presents that methodology, its development, structure, application, some sam ple results, perspectives an d draw-back s.

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