§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what his Department's expenditure was on forestry-related projects in Cameroon in(a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; what the projected spending is for (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006; and if he will make a statement; [177983]
(2) what plans his Department has to support efforts to (a) combat trade in illegal timber and (b) promote reform of the forestry sector in Cameroon; and if he will make a statement; [177984]
(3) what action the Government is taking to support efforts to (a) combat the trade in illegal timber and (b) reform the forestry sector in Cameroon; and if he will make a statement on his Department's objectives for work in the country; [177985]
663W(4) what analysis his Department has undertaken of the state of the forestry sector in Cameroon; [177986]
(5) what his Department's commitments are to funding community development projects in Cameroon; and if he will make a statement. [177987]
§ Hilary BennThe Department for International Development's (DFID) expenditure on forestry-related projects in Cameroon over the past three financial years has been:(a) 2001, £2.6 million (b) 2002, £2.4 million; (c) 2003, £1.0 million1. The planning figure for 2004–05 is £3 million. DFID's future forestry support of Cameroon will be focused on the African Forestry Law Enforcement and Governance initiative. DFID plans to commit £11 million over the next four years in support of the Cameroon Government's Forest and Environment Sector Programme (FESP).
The FESP is being implemented by the Government with support from DFID, the World Bank, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Canadian International Development Institute (CIDA), the European Union (EU) and the French Development Agency (AFD). The programme aims to implement wide ranging institutional reform and an effective strategy to control illegal logging, and to take measures to consolidate the rights of communities and protect the community forests from industrial exploitation. In particular, community development will be supported through the redistribution of a proportion of forestry revenues to rural communities. DFID also plans to develop a related initiative to strengthen the contribution of civil society and the private sector to forest sector reform.
Extensive analysis of the forestry sector has been undertaken by the Government, DFID and other donors as part of the FESP appraisal process, including a thorough social, economic and environmental assessment. In addition, DFID and the World Bank have commissioned reviews of over 10 years of fiscal and community forest reform.
DFID is strongly committed to stopping illegal logging and international trade in illegally produced forest products. One of the central aims of the reform programme is to stop illegal logging through (i) strengthening the capacity of government regulatory agencies (ii) introducing new forest management standards and regulatory systems (iii) encouraging increased community involvement (iv) encouraging private sector involvement in the management and (v) maintaining the independent monitor of forest operations.
Specifically, DFID has funded an independent body (Global Witness) to monitor the conduct of forest operations for the past three years in order to improve governance and transparency in the forest sector. DFID also strongly endorses the EU Forest Law and Governance Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. We are encouraging the Government of Cameroon to develop a Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the EU to support its reforms and prevent illegal exports of timber. Such an agreement would strengthen government efforts to stop illegal logging and promote sustainable forestry.
664WIn addition to Community Development support through the FESP, DFID funds various community development projects. The Small Grants Scheme, operating through the British High Commission, supports a wide range of development proposals from different Non Governmental Organisations and Community Based Organisations on a annual basis (e.g. in Human rights, Education, Health, Water and Sanitation). DFID also supports a Capacity Building Programme run by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) to strengthen civil society organisations in the forest sector. Assistance is also provided to the Cameroon Mountain Conservation Foundation (CAMCOF), to provide funding to enable communities to be engaged in biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use, thereby improving livelihoods.
1 Rounded to the nearest £100,000