Community forest groups in Cameroon are working to fight poverty, deforestation, and forest degradation. The document discusses how community forests have socioeconomic benefits but also debt and exclusivity issues. It describes SNV Cameroon's intervention to help community forest groups strengthen management, legally supply timber to secondary processors, and export timber, generating higher revenues. Lessons learned include the benefits of community forest groupings and communities exploiting their own forests.

1. Community forest groups fighting poverty, deforestation and forest degradation: making it a reality in Cameroon. Nzoyem Maffo Horly Nadège, Vabi Michael, Kouokam Roger and Asanga Christian SNV Cameroon

8. Table 1: Individual revenues in the COFONEABAME CF in 2008: 1957 m3 log volume 16 559 Evacuation of sawn timber 37 346 Total 15 806 Private wood 831 Private wood commission 1 557 Administrative members of the legal entity 2 593 Technical members of the CF legal entities (Forest operations controllers) Total revenues in 2008 (euros)

9. Table 2: Utilisation of community revenues in COFONEABAME from 2007 to 2009 23 310 500 977 2 769 3 677 4 667 4 958 5 763 Amount in Euros Percentage Expenses from community revenues 100 Total 2,14 Forest exploitation materials 4,19 Local administrative authorities 11,88 Forest administration 15,77 Development projects 20,02 Commercial activities 21,27 Functioning cost of the legal entity 24,72 Gift and help