Cameroon participates in the 19th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests in New-York.

• Date de Publication : 2024-05-08

The 19th session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) opened on May 6th 2024 with the Cameroonian delegation, led by Minister Jules DORET NDONGO, of Forestry and Wildlife, in attendance.

During the opening ceremony, representatives of governments, international organisations, non-governmental organisations as well as civil society organisations discussed issues relating to the implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan on Forests and forest financing.

Minister DORET NDONGO highlighted Cameroon's achievements in implementing the United Nations Strategic Plan on Forests. These include: the ongoing reform of the Special Funds (Forestry and Wildlife) of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife; the development of strategies to find "innovative funds" at national, regional and international level; the improvement of relations with CAFI (Central African Forest Initiative) and adherence to the principle of responsibility, but differentiated, and the Bali Plan.

On the issue of forest financing, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife noted that, given its strategic importance to the global ecosystem and the substantial contribution of its forests to biodiversity and the fight against global warming, Cameroon should be able to benefit from the payment of environmental offsets and access to climate finance. He also called for the introduction of a mandatory carbon tax, the financing of bilateral climate projects and payment for the efforts of tropical countries to conserve stocks.

Finally, he deplored the lack of progress on climate finance for developing countries, which could undermine confidence and paralyse efforts to combat deforestation and climate change.

The meeting will continue until May 10th.

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