Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Criteria and indicators of forest sustainability assessment for Cameroon

  • Published:
The Environmentalist Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Against a backdrop of continuous deforestation and the degradation of forest resources, this paper is an attempt to develop auspicious criteria and indicators of forest sustainability for Cameroon, drawing from the strength and weaknesses of those currently applicable. Using data emanating from both secondary and primary sources, this paper concludes that while the adoption and implementation of the criteria for forest sustainability should normally lead to sustainability, it should not be taken for granted because sustainability is not an abstract concept, but measurable. Thus, whether or not forest in Cameroon is sustainable can only be ascertained through the effective application of the criteria and indicators delineated in this paper.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker RE, Bushell JA (1971) The unclean planet: social biology. Ginn and Company Ltd, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedoya E (1991) Social and economic causes of deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon Basin: natives and colonists. Institute for Development Anthropology, New York. IDA Working Paper no. 60

  • Biwas AK (1992) Environment and sustainable development for cameroon. Report of a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional mission on the environment, Yaounde

  • DFID (2002) Cameroon country strategic paper. DFID Forest Programme Coordination, Yaounde

    Google Scholar 

  • Disilvestro R (1992) Rebirth of nature. Waley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Essama-Nssah B, Gockowski J, Kelley L (2002) A new deal for Cameroon’s forest. In: Lele Uma (ed) Managing a global resource: challenges of forest conservation and development, vol 5. Transaction Publishers, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Geist H, Lambin E (2003) Forces driving tropical deforestation, ASB Policybriefs No. 6, ASB Programme, Nairobi

  • Global Forest Watch (2000) An overview of logging in Cameroon. World Resources Institute, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldemberg J (1996) Energy, environment and development. Earthscan Publications Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Lumley S (1997) The environment and the Ethics of discounting: an empirical analysis. Ecol Econ 20(1):71–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nalini K, Naresh C (2002) India’s forests: potential for poverty alleviation. In: Lele Uma (ed) Managing a global resource: challenges of forest conservation and development, vol 5. Transaction Publishers, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Ndenecho E (2005) Biological resource exploitation in Cameroon. Unique Printers, Bamenda

    Google Scholar 

  • Ngwa NE, Fonjong LN (2003) Actors options and the challenges of forest management in anglophone Cameroon. GeoJournal 57(2):95–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piussi P, Farrell EP (2000) Interactions between society and forest ecosystems: challenges for the near future. For Ecol Manag 132(1):21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins P (2004) Political ecology. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudel T (1993) Tropical deforestation: small farmers and land clearing in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Columbian University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sedjo RA (2005) Macroeconomics and forest sustainability in the developing world resources for the future, Washington

  • Steinlin H (1994) The decline of tropical forests. Q J Int Agric 33(2):25–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Tainter JA (2001) Sustainable rural communities. In: Carol J, Yvonne B (eds) People managing forests. Resources for the Future, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Tani AM (2001) The place of rural women in the management of forest resources: the case of Mbalmayo and neighbouring areas of Cameroon. Resources for the Future, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesi MK (2004) Cameroon`s endangered environment: economic policy and forest loss. In: Kalu K (ed) Agenda setting and public policy in Africa. Ashgate Publishing Company, Burlington

    Google Scholar 

  • Uma L (2002) Managing a global resource: an overview. In: Lele U (ed) Managing a global resource: challenges of forest conservation and development, vol 5. Transaction Publishers, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (1996) Toward environmentally sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank, Washington

  • World Bank (2002) Managing a global resource. Transaction Publishers, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Wunder S (2000) The economics of deforestation. Macmillan Press Ltd, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Buea, B.P. 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon

    Victor N. Cheo

Authors
  1. Victor N. Cheo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victor N. Cheo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cheo, V.N. Criteria and indicators of forest sustainability assessment for Cameroon. Environmentalist 31, 299–307 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-011-9336-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-011-9336-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation