By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Cameroon Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) have launched a program aimed at enhancing the capacity of countries to ensure that forestry contributes to healthy, sustainable agri-food systems.
The project was launched on Thursday, December 12, in Yaoundé during a workshop, presided over by MINFOF Secretary General, Joseph Nyongwen, alongside FAO representative and Senior Forestry Officer Walter Sven.
During the launch ceremony, Nyongwen stressed that the project aligns with several long-term and short-term initiatives introduced by the government to establish reliable food systems. He highlighted the importance of leveraging opportunities within the forestry sector while preserving the nation’s biodiversity.
Nyongwen noted that the project recognizes the significance of non-timber forest products referred to by their French acronym PFNL, as well as the National Development Strategy outlined by the government.
He stressed government’s commitment to ensuring that the project achieves its goal of enhancing the capacity of personnel in data management and knowledge regarding forestry products, non-timber forest products, and related food items.
“The forestry sector provides over 15,000 direct jobs and 170,000 indirect jobs, as well as traditional food sources, including fruits, insects, and wild animals. FAO estimates that 60.5% of the population lacks food security,” Nyongwen stated. He added that it is crucial to explore safer opportunities to combat food insecurity and biodiversity loss in the country.
Walter Sven on his part remarked that the project is part of a global initiative to promote food security and sustainable biodiversity. He noted that the project will not only improve conditions in Cameroon but also serve as a learning platform for other countries, given Cameroon’s rich diversity and expertise in the sector.
“…Through this project, we aim to demonstrate how forestry and forest products contribute to development. It is essential to be here in Cameroon and Central Africa, which has a wealth of experience and products that we wish to share with other nations,” Sven said.
According to FAO, the project is expected to address food insecurity, which has risen to 58.5 percent of the total population in 2023, reversing a downward trend observed since 2017. The initiative will also seek solutions to the increasing cost of living, which affects household food security, by identifying sustainable, healthy, and alternative food systems that require fewer inputs, thereby addressing both food security and biodiversity loss.
Reports indicate that Cameroon is notably rich in biodiversity, with forests covering about 43% of the country’s land area and exhibiting high species diversity. This rich biodiversity and forest cover significantly impact the livelihoods of local communities, with a substantial portion of the population relying on forest resources for food, medicine, and income.
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