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In Cameroon, local forestry practices are sometimes not in line with the legal requirements related to selling timber from community forests (CFs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate local practices based on the requirements of legality grid No. 6 from the VPA-FLEGT (Voluntary Partnership Agreement – Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade). Focus group discussions, individual interviews, and field observations revealed that local practices in CF could be compatible with the requirements of the grid. However, some local practices contribute to preventing fulfillment of VPA-FLEGT requirements. To bridge the gaps between local practices and grid verifiers, the grid could be modified to better distinguish the responsibilities of communities, contractors, and the forest administration. This would allow for the modification of forest legislation to prevent overburdening communities. Another option would be to develop a market strategy for legal wood from CFs. Results from this study could find applications in other countries where VPA-FLEGT have been implemented or are negotiated in Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Given the importance of the agricultural frontier as an engine of deforestation, this paper focuses on how colonists (from the Spanish word for “colonists” that is used to describe migrants to the agricultural frontier), who are important and largely overlooked stakeholders, perceive the new climate mitigation mechanism known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD+). We aimed (1) to document colonists’ land use, perceptions, needs, and aspirations and (2) to understand if and how they could be taken into account under REDD+ policies. The study, including multiple data collection techniques (e.g., focus group, interviews, and participatory activities), was conducted in eastern Panama. Three areas that were adjacent to the Province of Darien border were chosen because of their similar forested landscapes and varying accessibility to a main road. Our results suggest that land use preferences, culture, forest scarcity and dependency, inequalities (e.g., land use, amount of forest, and land area), and lack of technical capacities are key elements to be considered when developing a REDD+ strategy with colonist communities. We propose that halting deforestation without both considering local communities’ perceptions and giving effective alternatives could seriously undermine livelihoods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]