Forest for Sale

Further to the Forest Management strategy offer by Cameroon (Mr. Matta) as explained in the ECONOMIST (February 16/08) I believe that Cameroon has every right to sell the Forest to whomever it chooses, loggers or environmentalists. In my opinion it is a very considerate and kind gesture that Cameroon has first offered (since 2001) the Forest to environmental groups.

Something that Cameroon or the environmental groups might consider is subdividing the Forest then reselling the small subdivided plots. First the forest would need to be rezoned into a number of environmental (conservation) zones then subdivide each zone into small plots and resell the smaller plots to environmentally interested parties. If there exists a Land Titles system in Cameroon that guarantees security of tenure so that buyers feel secure the results could be:

- Environmental groups, individuals or environmentally conscious corporations could outright purchase a piece (big or small) of the Forest. (The Forest might be divided into various zones that allow a range of limited resource activities depending upon the ecological sensitivity within each zone and the price per land area within each zone could be established accordingly.) So long as each purchaser continues to pay his annual land taxes he would remain the land owner.

- Cameroon would benefit by collecting the funds from the sale of the lands as well as annual taxes. Cameroon would retain ultimate authority and control over the lands (same as in USA or UK) including undersurface rights and retain rights to limited access to natural resources subject to the zoning over each area.

- The bigest winner is of course the Forest. The costs would be paid voluntarily by those most interested in saving the environment/Forest whether it be a large environmental group or a single individual or corporation. (There is something to be said for pride of ownership big or small.)

All of the tools necessary to accomplish the above already exist, there are many examples of excellent Land Titles systems (i.e. province of Alberta in Canada) world courts exist that can adjudicate (& discourage) disputes, desktop technology such as Google Earth make it easy to survey and monitor each individual plot and etc.

To rezone and subdivide the Forest requires extra work of course however there are many more buyers willing to pay $100 for one Hectare of Forest (plus $10 per year taxes) and it appears that there are very few willing to pay $2 per Hectare for one year rent if the Forest is not divided.

Can free enterprise and ecology work together?

Regards,

Ray