Cameroon's wildlife legislation: Local custom versus legal conception

Wildlife law needs to recognize local uses of wildlife to take into account the contribution of traditional customs and practices to sustainable wildlife resource management and to harmonize conservation and social goals. Wildlife is important in all the countries of the Congo Basin, although local communities and the State may view it in different ways. The same legislation excludes communities from wildlife management and this could paradoxically have negative effects for wildlife conservation. Forest inhabitants have few rights or responsibilities under the present legislation. The law sees them merely as users of wildlife and allocates them no responsibility in the management of wildlife resources or the areas designated as habitat for these resources apart from hunting zones under community management. By outlawing many hunting practices, the wildlife code has paradoxically encouraged the expansion of illegal activities.