Government, CARPE and IUCN yesterday held a workshop on the REDD process for stakeholders.

Ahead of the 40th edition of World Environment Day to be commemorated this Tuesday June 5, the Central African Regional Programme for the Environment (CARPE) in partnership with the Government of Cameroon and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), yesterday May 4 drilled stakeholders on the workings of the REDD process in sustainably managing the environment.

A workshop held at the Yaounde Djeuga Palace to explain to actors in environmental issues the link between the REDD process that consists in reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation; and the different development sectors of the country. It also sought to bring to the fore the role the civil society in the process to bring about meaningful reforms in the environmental sector, the place of the process in enhancing green agriculture as well as share ideas on the opportunities that the REDD process offers for community forest management in the country.

Like the representative of the Minister of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development at the event, Dr. Amougou Joseph, CARPE Regional Programme Manager for Central Africa, Dr Angu Angu Kenneth, said the REDD process is a veritable boost for sustainable environmental management in the face of increasing degradation caused by natural and man-made factors.

Participants made up of experts from concerned ministries, environment-related international non-governmental organisations, civil society actors and university students, were drilled on several topics. These included, "REDD: An opportunity for planning and stimulating development in various sectors of the economy," "Stakes and challenges of the process for a green agriculture," "The process as an opportunity to improve the sharing of benefits accruing from environmental management as well as its place in community forest management."

Commemorated every June 5, the World Environment Day is used by the United Nations to stimulate worldwide awareness on the environment to enhance political attention and action. The theme for this year is, "Green Economy: Does it Include You?"