Why has the government chosen to grant a logging concession in Cameroon’s biodiverse Ebo forest to an obscure company?
During Yetina Victor’s last visit to the Ebo forest in October 2023, he experienced both enchantment and concern. Enchanted by the crystal-clear Nibouem river enveloping the trees, he was also worried about the forest’s future. As chief of NdikBassogog I village in Cameroon’s Littoral region, Yetina highlighted Ebo’s richness, including diverse fauna, wild fruits, medicinal plants, and towering trees. Spanning 2,000 km2, Ebo is home to endangered species like Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees and forest elephants, crucial for 40 Banen communities’ livelihoods. Despite local and international opposition, the government proceeded with logging in Ebo, awarding the Forest Management Unit to Sextransbois after contentious decrees and protests.
The situation looks bleak for the Banen people
In 2023, the government’s decree purportedly benefits indigenous groups by proposing enclaves within the Ebo forest for the Banen and plans to facilitate their return to ancestral villages. While some Banen members welcome these initiatives, others vehemently oppose them, fearing displacement and loss of livelihood. Critics like Samuel Nguiffo argue that the decree strips the Banen of their legal claims to the land, describing it as a betrayal without proper consultation. Yetina condemns the decision to allow logging as cultural genocide, stressing the deep cultural ties the Banen have to their forest homeland. Legal challenges have been slow-moving, possibly due to community exhaustion, migration, and reluctance to confront powerful logging interests.
Carbon will be released
Critics have raised significant concerns about Cameroon’s decision to authorize logging in the ecologically rich Ebo forest. They argue that this move could potentially breach both national laws, such as the Forestry Law and Wildlife Law, designed to ensure sustainable natural resource management, and international agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity. The fear is that logging operations without adequate environmental assessments could lead to habitat destruction for endangered species and threaten biodiversity. Moreover, there are worries that these actions could hinder Cameroon’s efforts to meet its climate commitments, particularly in reducing carbon emissions under its Nationally Determined Contributions. Despite criticism from NGOs and international bodies, Cameroon’s government has defended its approach, asserting inclusive community involvement in development plans and disputing claims of high deforestation rates in the country.
Who exactly is Sextransbois?
Civil society groups are strongly criticizing the allocation of logging rights in Cameroon’s Ebo forest, highlighting concerns over legal violations and the lack of transparency in the process. Sextransbois, the company awarded the concession, remains opaque with limited public information available, despite its pivotal role in the contentious logging operations. This situation parallels controversies involving Camvert near Campo Ma’an National Park, raising fears about environmental degradation and threats to indigenous rights. Critics argue that these activities pose significant risks to biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities such as the Banen, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and sustainable management practices in forest concessions.
