Sustainable Logging Practices in Cameroonian Forests

Modern sustainable logging is about much more than planting trees. Here is how responsible forestry works in practice.

Reduced Impact Logging (RIL)

RIL techniques minimize forest damage during harvesting:

Pre-Harvest Planning

• Detailed inventory of trees
• Mapping of sensitive areas
• Planned skid trails and roads
• Identification of protected species

Directional Felling

Trees are felled in specific directions to minimize damage to surrounding forest and facilitate extraction.

Controlled Extraction

Using designated skid trails and avoiding stream crossings reduces soil compaction and erosion.

Biodiversity Protection

Buffer Zones

Mandatory protection zones around:

• Water courses (30-50m)
• Wildlife corridors
• Sacred sites
• Steep slopes

Wildlife Management

• Pre-harvest wildlife surveys
• Hunting prohibitions in concessions
• Protection of nest trees
• Anti-poaching patrols

Harvest Controls

Minimum Diameter Limits

Only trees above species-specific diameter limits can be harvested, ensuring regeneration.

Rotation Cycles

Harvest areas are only revisited after 25-30 years, allowing forest recovery.

Community Integration

Local communities are involved in:

• Forest monitoring
• Boundary demarcation
• Fire prevention
• Benefit sharing

Certification Verification

All practices are verified through:

• Annual FSC audits
• Government inspections
• Satellite monitoring
• Independent observers