Policy and environmental communication in mitigation of non-sustainable forest exploitation in Cameroon: an impact assessment of Anglophone Cameroon [Elektronische Ressource] = Strategie und Umweltkommunikation zur Milderung von nicht-nachhaltiger Forstwirtschaft in Kamerun: eine Folgenabschätzung des anglophonen Kameruns / Victor Ngu Cheo

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• Publié par: brandenburgische_technische_universitat_cottbus
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 85
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Policy and Environmental Communication in Mitigation of Non-Sustainable Forest
Exploitation in Cameroon: An Impact Assessment of Anglophone Cameroon

Strategie und Umweltkommunikation zur Milderung von nicht-nachhaltiger
Forstwirtschaft in Kamerun: Eine Folgenabschätzung des anglophonen Kameruns

A thesis approved by the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Process Engineering at
the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of the academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in
Environmental and Resource Management


By
Victor Ngu Cheo
BA (Yaoundé) MA (Ibadan)
Matriculation Number: 2407370

Place of Birth: Wum, North West Region, Cameroon



Supervisor: Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Wolfgang Schluchter, BTU Cottbus, Germany
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Hans-Jürgen Voigt, BTU Cottbus, Germany

Date of Oral Examination: 28th October 2010


BTU Cottbus, Germany

DECLARATION


I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my original research work carried
out at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, Germany within the
framework of the International PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) programm e in Environmental
and Resource Management.

Professor Wolfgang Schluchter, Head of the Chair of Environmental Issues in the Social
Sciences of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, has been the main
supervisor of this research, while Professor Hans-Jürgen Voigt Head of the Chair of
Environmental Geology at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, Germany,
was co-supervisor.

I hereby admit that this dissertation has never been submitted in whole or in part for a
degree at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, or elsewhere. References to
other people’s research have been duly cited and acknowledged in this research work
accordingly.



-------------------------------------------------------------
Victor Ngu Cheo
BA (Yaoundé) MA (Ibadan)
Matriculation Number 2407370


V. N. Cheo, Chair of Environmental Issues in the Social Sciences Page ii BTU Cottbus, Germany
DEDICATION

This dissertation is dedicated to my three daughters; Germaine-Ashley Nwesheligi
Cheo, Erika-Kamille Dzekamo Cheo and Lea-Karen Ngwimetoh Cheo, my guardians
in Germany, Erika and Rudolf Schirmer, and naturally to my beloved wife, Adeline
Abimnwi Awemo Cheo, “the rock of my life,” for their endurance, encouragement,
support and understanding throughout this exacting phase of my academic career.




V. N. Cheo, Chair of Environmental Issues in the Social Sciences Page iii BTU Cottbus, Germany
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am highly indebted to my main supervisor, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schluchter for his
alacrity and diligence in supervising this work. As a point of fact, that this work has
attained this quality and readability is thanks to his meticulous guidance and intellectual
insight. In a similar way I extend my sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Hans-Jügen Voigt, my
second supervisor whose advice and suggestions greatly enhanced my knowledge on the
practical applicability of this research endeavour as well as in proffering solutions to the
issues at stake in this research.

I avail myself of this opportunity to thank the following authorities of the University of
Buea; Prof. Vincent Titanji, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, Deputy Vice
Chancellor in charge of Teaching and Development of ICTs, Prof. Joyce Endeley,
Director of Academic Affairs, Dr Balgah Sounders, Chief of Service for Admissions and
Records in the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences and Dr Talla Richard of t he
Research and Cooperation Division, for their encouragement and support

Special thanks to my former Dean and former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Cornelius Lambi
without whose relentless efforts I would never have had my initial study leave to embark
on this lofty academic journey. His constant panoramic support has been a daily
motivation for my success. I owe no less to Professor Herbert Endeley (RIP), former
Registrar and Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Cooperation.

My profound gratitude also goes to my mother, Thechla Dzekamo Cheo (RIP), for her
unreserved contribution to my moral and academic wellbeing. Without her altruism and
assiduity, I would never have gone this far in my social and academic life. Special thanks
to my sister and niece, Mrs. Killi Florence and Eleanor Killi respectively for their moral
and financial support as well as the support of Mr. and Mrs. Sadouma Roger, Dr and Dr
(Mrs) Francis Cheo and Mr. and Mrs. Fidelis Makwondo Cheo. I will forever be indebted
to Mr. and Mrs. Pascal Nji Atanga and Mr. and Mrs. Charly Ndi Nchia for always being
V. N. Cheo, Chair of Environmental Issues in the Social Sciences Page iv BTU Cottbus, Germany
there for me whenever I needed their support. I owe no less to Mr. and Mrs. Abety
Aloysius, Mr. and Mrs. Ndeh Christopher, Dr. Alemagi Dieudene, and Dr. Collins
Ughochukwu, and Mrs. Minang Tabitha

Special thanks to the family of Mr. and Mrs. John Awemo for their invaluable panoramic
support. Without your love, material and financial support throughout these years for me
and my family, I probably would have abandoned the show. Thanks most especial to
Mrs. Awemo Ruphina and my brothers-in-law, Dip.-Ing. Nchungong, Dr. Anuashie and
Awemo for “carrying my cross” stoically. Ngwi, Lizzette and Joan, your prayers and
baby-sitting in turns, enabled me to carry out field research for this study. Special thanks
also go to Ms. Mubah Erica for all her support. The two Mubahs; Kelvin and Brian, your
compound tricks afforded me some pleasurable distraction.

Last but not least, I thank God Almighty for all the special Graces received throughout
the period of this study and for the moral and spiritual contribution of Reverend Dr.
Thomas Olickal.






V. N. Cheo, Chair of Environmental Issues in the Social Sciences Page v BTU Cottbus, Germany
ABSTRACT
The economic crises of the mid 1980s and 1990s due to a fall in economic productivity
inflicted serious negative consequences on Cameroon’s forest ecosystems and forest
resources which became the target of intense exploitation for multiple purposes. A forest
policy reform at the behest of the World Bank was intended to regulate forest exploitation
in a sustainable way. More than a decade since the inception of this policy, this study,
through a three-tier methodological approach of survey, content analysis and observation,
seeks to assess policy impacts per se, as well as the role of environmental communication
in mitigating non-sustainable forest exploitation in Anglophone Cameroon. The study
also investigates a valid and reliable option for the sustainable management of forest
resources, by comparing and contrasting the two operational forest management
paradigms. The outcome of the investigation reveals that both policy and environmental
communication have a more positive impact in the community forest area than in the
state-managed forest area, implying that the former is a better forest management option
than the latter. However, forest sustainability is still at stake in both areas, due, generally,
to bad forest governance such as corruption, minimal public participation, lack of
transparency and accountability, as well as the ubiquitous presence of poverty,
unemployment and inadequate public access to socio-economic development indicators.
To this end, the study proffers some robust recommendations that if implemented will
greatly enhance the badly needed forest sustainability.

Key Words: Policy, Environmental Communication, Forestry, Cameroon.

KURZFASSUNG
Die Wirtschaftskrisen von Mitte der 1980er und 1990er Jahre aufgrund des Rückgangs
der wirtschaftlichen Produktivität hatten schwerwiegende negative Auswirkungen auf die
Waldökosysteme und Waldressourcen Kameruns. Die Ausbeutung der Wälder und deren
Ressourcen für verschiedene Zwecke war dadurch intensiver geworden. Eine
Waldpolitikreform auf Anweisung der Weltbank sollte die Waldbewirtschaftung in einer
V. N. Cheo, Chair of Environmental Issues in the Social Sciences Page vi BTU Cottbus, Germany
nachhaltigen Weise regeln. Mehr als ein Jahrzehnt seit Beginn dieser Politik ist
verstrichen. In dieser Studie sollen durch einen dreistufigen methodischen Ansatz der
Befragung, Inhaltsanalyse und Beobachtung die Auswirkungen der Politik selbst sowie
die Rolle der Umweltkommunikation bei der Minderung von nicht-nachhaltiger
Waldbewirtschaftung im englischsprachigen Gebiet Kameruns beurteilt werden. Die
Studie untersucht auch eine gültige und zuverlässige Option für die nachhaltige
Bewirtschaftung der forstlichen Ressourcen durch Vergleich und Gegenüberstellung der
beiden operativen Waldbewirtschaftungsparadigmen. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse
zeigen, dass beide, die politische und die ökologische Kommunikation, eine positivere
Auswirkung sowohl auf die kommunale Forstfläche al