Following the launch of the COMIFAC-FAO project on the establishment of “ national surveillance and MNV systems with a regional approach in Congo Basin countries” on 16 and 17 September 2012 in Ndjamena, a new phase has begun with the implementation of activities in various member countries. 

In this connection, the first national workshop was held from 6 to 7 March 2013 in Mbalmayo, in Cameroon, chaired by H.E. Mr Pierre HELE, the Minister of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED). The workshop which gathered most of the stakeholders in the implementation of the REDD+ process in the Congo basin countries aimed to:

♦ provide decision-makers and other players with information on the MNV project and discuss priorities and the MNV process in Cameroon,  

♦  jointly develop a work plan for 2013 with the government in line with the R- PP and initiate reflection on the coordination of activities between technical partners of ST REDD,

♦  identify project partners and define responsibilities in terms of capacity building and development of MNV at national level

♦  discuss the establishment of institutional arrangements for the MNV process,

♦  assess the capacities of various partners’, players and resource persons in the area of forest inventories, geographic information systems and teledetection.

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There were two main highlights to this important exercise:

1.  The opening ceremony, punctuated by three speeches: those of the COMIFAC representative,  Mr. Hervé Maidou, the Resident Representative of FAO in Cameroon, Mr Maï Moussa Abari, of MINEPDED, His Excellency Pierre HELE. The latter presented the project itself and its role in the implementation of the REDD process as well as its contribution to the attainment of Cameroon’s development objectives.

2.  Presentations and experience-sharing: participants were treated to presentation on the implementation of REDD+ and MNV in Cameroon and on experience gathered in the DRC on the development of the National Forest Surveillance System (SNSF) and the JICA’s experience in forest inventories. The presentations enabled the participants to identify a number of stakeholders to be engaged in the two intervention areas of the MNV (inventory and teledetection), training needs, future priorities and formulate an action plan for their implementation as well as a road map. 

At the end of two days of intense work, the following results were obtained:

♦  Identification of key partners in the establishment of the SNSF based on skills and experience,

♦  Identification of needs and other forms of technical assistance required for the establishment of the SNSF,

♦  Iidentification of major challenges likely to hamper the establishment of the  SNSF,

♦  Proposal of a roadmap for each working group,

A recommendation was made to the Cameroon to improve coordination between the project and the REDD+ technical secretariat both at the technical and organizational level. 

These recommendations brought the meeting to a close, with participants expressing their high satisfaction. 

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The Final Communiqué