Resources
Bibliography compiled by Lorena Ibargüen Tinley in 2004.
A-Z by country and subject:
Also on this site
Colchester, M., Boscolo, M., Lescuyer, G., Kill, J., Obidzinsky, K., Sembiring, S., Vargas Rios, M. T., & Wells, A. 2003, Forest law enforcement and rural livelihoods: synthesis report. DFID/ PROFOR/ COFPR
Abstract: In many recent international forums and summits (G-8 Summits, United Nations Forum on Forests, Ministerial Meeting in Bali, International Tropical Timber Council meeting, among others) there has been an emphasis on the need for better forest law enforcement, in order to curb forest loss, capture revenues for national governments and improve governance within the sector. There has been, nevertheless, less interest in the evaluation of the impacts of illegal logging and forest law enforcement policies on rural livelihoods. The main objective of this paper is to look into these two crucial issues. The paper is based on six country case studies in: Cameroon, Indonesia, Canada, Honduras, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
The paper starts by looking into the figures of forest dependant communities in the world, and then proceeds on the analysis of the forestry legal framework of each country, pointing out that customary forest access regimes are usually superimposed by national laws. It looks into the political economy of illegal logging; and describes some previous experiences of forest law enforcement. It finishes with a list of various recommendations on law enforcement initiatives that should contribute effectively to poverty alleviation, identify and correct unfair legal frameworks as well as point to effective law enforcement activities. Some of these are:
- Adoption of a rights based approach to forest law enforcement
- Linkage to governance reforms programmes
- Strengthen linkages to civil society for monitoring and awareness building
- Assessments of how forest dependant groups use forests and extent to which laws secure such activities.
- Participation of communities in designing and applying enforcement strategies
- Simplification of bureaucratic, fiscal, management, planning and legislative requirements.
- Transparency
Keywords: Bolivia/Cameroon/Canada/communities/forest law enforcement/governance/Honduras/illegal logging/Indonesia/Nicaragua/rural livelihoods/Verifor Bibliography /Project - SO140
Collomb, J. G. & Bikie, H. 2001, 1999-2000 allocation of logging permits in Cameroon: fine tuning Central Africa's auction system , Global Forest Watch Cameroon,
Abstract: This document presents information on how the different logging rights were allocated in Cameroon between 1999- 2000 and to whom. It is concurrent with the Global Forest Watch Cameroon mandate to make such information widely available to national and international audiences
Keywords: Africa/Cameroon/Verifor Bibliography /Project - SO140 Forests Monitor 2001, Sold down the river. The need to control transnational forestry corporations: a European case study , Netherlands Committee for IUCN and Mapresearch was funded by the MacArthur Foundation.,
http://www.forestsmonitor.org/reports/solddownriver/cover.htm
Abstract: This report examines the role of the European Union (EU) in the management of forest resources in six countries in Central Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. One of the reports objectives is to effectively assess the benefits of the international timber trade on local communities. It looks into each country case to analyze the role of transnational corporations, of multilateral and bilateral creditors and national governments, in view of the expansion of forest commercial exploitation. Some of the aspects reviewed are the capacity of these African national governments to enforce forestry legislation, the timber industry's response to weak enforcement and the lack of transparency and democracy. The report concludes that private companies are logging illegally on a significant scale and national governments are using logging concessions to develop and maintain their various patronage networks. In this context, local communities are becoming more marginalised, their rights being undermined and livelihood opportunities threatened. This report is third in a series which focuses on the social, environmental, economic and political impacts of transnational corporations (TNC's) on forests and forest peoples
Keywords: Africa/Cameroon/communities/concessions/forests/trade/transnational corporations/Verifor Bibliography /Project - SO140
Global Witness 2002, Forest law enforcement in Cameroon. 1st summary report of the Independent Observer, May - November 2001
Abstract: The project of Independent Observation in support of Forest Law Enforcement in Cameroon was established in May 2001. Its aim is to improve governance and transparency in the forest sector, which has been acknowledged to be seriously affected by corruption and poor practices. The international NGO, Global Witness, was appointed Independent Observer (IO) in May 2002 for up to three years until an international bid takes place to fulfil the post. This is the first major report by Global Witness as the IO, and as such, it gives an overview of the project, its conception, objectives and the progress that has been achieved during the initial six-month transition phase. The document concludes that this initiative is a positive step forward in the fight against corruption and illegal logging. However, the credibility gained, the assumed political will and commitment to transparency, should be contrasted with the lack of action taken against major logging companies. Enforcement remains to be demonstrated by the Government by the application of significant sanctions
Keywords: Cameroon/corruption/forest law/forest law enforcement/governance/illegal logging/law enforcement/Verifor Bibliography /Project - SO140
Global Witness 2003, Forest law enforcement in Cameroon. 2nd summary report of the Independent Observer, December 2001 - June 2003
Abstract: This Report is the second of its kind, since Global Witness was appointed IO and includes an overview of the project of Independent Observation, a progress review of the objectives of the Project, the Independent Observers mandate, and a description of its activities. Its major conclusion is that during the first two years of work the Independent Observer has been able to attain greater access to documentation, has completed 35 field missions documenting in detail major and minor infractions and has published all related reports. This achievement however, has not concluded in the pursuit of these cases to their legal resolution. The issuing of official statements of offence and prosecution for illegal logging has increased since the beginning of the Project, but despite this cases of illegal logging remain unresolved
Keywords: Cameroon/corruption/forest law/forest law enforcement/governance/illegal logging/independent forest monitoring/law enforcement/Verifor Bibliography /Project - SO140
Rodenburg, E., Kristensen, P., Maddox, D., & Ottke, C. 2000, Monitoring for impact: lessons on natural resource monitoring from 13 NGO's , World Resources Institute, Conservation International.,
Abstract: This Handbook includes the natural resource and forest monitoring work of 13 non-governmental organizations (NGO's). Each of the organizations provide case studies describing lessons they learned form monitoring natural resources, especially forests. The handbook contains basic instruction and principals on monitoring and it presents an integrated framework for creating and implementing natural resources monitoring programs; as well as a conceptual and methodological framework for aiding in future monitoring projects. The handbook stresses the importance NGO's play in providing important information on the status of natural resources and on government and private industry activities that will in turn help societies improve their natural resource management. Monitoring for Impact is a product of the combined efforts of the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Global Forest Watch program and Conservation International's (CI) Monitoring and Evaluation program.
- Association for the Protection of Environment and Culture (APEC), Nepal
- Center for Environment and Development (CED), Cameroon
- Comite Nacional Pro Defensa de la Fauana y Flora (CODEFF), Chile
- Conservation International - Bolivia/ Guatemala/ Washington D.C.
- Environmental Rights Action, Nigeria
- Fiends of the Earth - Amazonia Programme, Brazil
- Global Witness, UK based
- Institute for Social and Environmental Studies of Southern Bahia (IESB), Brazil
- Le Pou D' Agouti, French Guiana
- Sierra Legal Defence Fund (SLDF) and British Columbia Forest Watch, Canada
- Telapak, Indonesia
Keywords: British Columbia/Cameroon/forest monitoring/forests/Indonesia/monitoring/natural resources/Nepal/NGO's/Verifor Bibliography /Project - SO140
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