New domains for capacity building for REDD+ and the VPAs/FLEGT team members have been identified.

This was a presentation delivered by Dr. Haman Unusa of the REDD+ Technical Secretariat, lodged in the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development, MINEPDED.

The presentation titled: “Capacity Building for REDD+ and VPAs/FLEGT Technical Secretariats,” was one of the papers that participants shared opinions on during a training workshop in Mbalmayo.

Dr. Haman declared that “the REDD+ and the VPAs/FLEGT Technical Secretariats have similar missions geared towards the implementation and elaboration of the sustainable forest management policies. The need to develop synergetic actions is thus indispensable for a more enhanced future collaboration,” he said.

He outlined a number of capacity building projects from which they have benefited such as; the PRE-REDD by the Central Africa Forest Commission, COMIFAC, the MRV of the US Forest Services and the MRV training by JICS.

Expressing a strong belief in the need for training of members of the REDD+ and VPAs/FLEGT secretariats, Dr. Haman said the functioning of the two structures will boost their capacity to sensitise public institutions, Civil Society Organisations, International Organisations, Community Based Organisations and the private sector operating within the framework of the two processes.

This, he said, will ensure the application of the policies developed for a successful REDD+ mechanism.

In addition, their understanding of the importance of the REDD+ and the VPAs/FLEGT processes in forest governance as well as the implementation of the activities of the two mechanisms would be greatly enhanced through such trainings.

From the discussions, it was agreed that the training of members of the platform is indispensable and that the training needs and tools for each target group should be identified.

Meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Amougou, Focal Point Coordinator of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Head of the Monitoring, Notification and Verification Unit in MINEPDED, said Cameroon is lucky to have the VPAs/FLEGT and the REDD+ processes.

According to him, the two structures have added value to the Cameroonian forest.

“The REDD+ and the VPAs/FLEGT processes are long-term projects considering that conservation efforts will remain sustained. Capacity building should therefore be a permanent tool to keep the two processes ongoing,” member remarked.

Dr. Amougou said “When we talk of REDD+, we are talking sustainability. The VPAs/FLEGT calls for the exploitation of the forest in entirely a different manner. The processes will ensure that development in all other sectors of the country is handled in a modern and different way,” he stated.

Other presentations included: sensitisation and information sharing in the REDD+ process, the National Forestry and Wildlife Control Strategy of Cameroon and the Inter-Ministerial Collaboration Framework for the VPAs/FLEGT with focus on the National Follow-up Committee.