AUDIENCE GRANTED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION

• Date de Publication : 2025-05-13

On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife granted an audience to a European Union delegation led by H.E. Jean-Marc CHATAIGNER.

The purpose of the meeting was to report on the "Cocoa Action" project, which focuses on mapping cocoa cultivation in Cameroon and assessing its impact on forests. The European Union is supporting Cameroon in its sustainable forest management and sustainable cocoa initiatives, aiming to improve agricultural practices, reduce deforestation, and promote environmentally friendly, socially fair, and economically viable cocoa production. This project is supported by several partners, including EFI, FAO, GIZ, JRC, among others.

Since December 31, 2020, European Union regulations prohibit the marketing of products that contribute to deforestation. Although tools now exist to produce global-scale maps, these maps do not always accurately reflect on-the-ground realities, as forest areas are often overestimated upon analysis.

Minister Jules Doret Ndongo suggested that the European Union should first consult with the relevant sector when drafting terms of reference, in order to work more effectively together in the field. He emphasized that biodiversity conservation must take precedence over cash crop cultivation.