The draft budget of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife for 2016 is FCFA 18.466 billion. The amount has dropped by about 300 million. In 2015, the Ministry carried out operational and investment activities with FCFA 18.755 billion. Minister Philip Ngole Ngwese was at the National Assembly yesterday November 26, 2015, where he briefed members of the Committee on Finance and Budget on how he intends to use the proposed FCFA 18.4 billion. Discussions were chaired by Hon. Rosette Ayayi, with Labour and Social Security Minister, Grégoire Owona, sitting in for the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies.

The Forestry and Wildlife Minister told the press after that his team was going to ensure the sustainable management of forests and forestry resources. “We have to ensure that we protect and enhance our protected areas and fauna. We also have to enhance the processing of our products, bearing in mind the need to secure resources for sustainable management,” Philip Ngole Ngwese noted. He said all the activities were intended to promote economic growth.

The objectives include preserving forest potentials, stabilizing the production of legal wood, supporting councils and communities in forest management and increasing the surface area of forest plantations. Concerning wildlife and protected areas, focus will be on exploiting hunting zones, stepping up the contribution of wildlife to the economy.