Development of Local Land Use and Sustainable Development Plans (LLUSDP) in four target municipalities in Cameroon

Cameroon possesses an exceptional forest heritage, with nearly 19 million hectares of dense rainforest covering almost 40 % of its territory. Located in the Congo Basin-the world's second-largest tropical forest after the Amazon-these forests are a major biodiversity reservoir and a critical global carbon sink. However, this ecological capital is under increasing pressure. Cameroon's annual deforestation rate is estimated at 0.6-1 %, corresponding to more than 100,000 hectares lost each year. Direct drivers include illegal logging, mining, infrastructure development, unplanned urbanisation and agricultural expansion, the latter accounting for about 60 % of total deforestation. In 2021, the Centre, South and Littoral regions alone represented around 61 % of national forest loss. These trends are reinforced by structural factors such as rapid population growth (expected to double by 2046), accelerating urbanisation, persistent rural poverty, weak land governance and limited planning capacity at local level. In response, Cameroon has committed to major international frameworks aimed at reducing deforestation and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, notably the Paris Agreement (COP21) and the Glasgow Forest Declaration (COP26). Nationally, land-use planning reforms-especially the Framework Law on Land Use Planning and its instruments (national, regional and local plans, including LLUSDP)-seek to establish integrated multi-level spatial planning. Yet implementation remains constrained by insufficient legal, technical and operational capacities, limiting effective coordination of development and forest conservation. Within this context, the GIZ-implemented module "Capacity Building in Land Use Planning," financed by CAFI and BMZ, aims to promote inclusive and sustainable spatial planning that reduces forest pressure while supporting balanced economic development. The module comprises five outputs, including strengthening the legal basis for the 2011 planning law, building municipal and regional planning capacities, developing LLUSDP in four pilot municipalities, and preparing methodological tools for the third national forest inventory. Among its components, Output 4 is particularly important from a strategic perspective. It aims to develop LLUSDP in the municipalities of Ngambé-Tikar and Mfou (Central Region), Melong (Littoral Region) and Akom II (Southern Region). These LLUSDP will be developed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the methodological guide for developing LLUSDP, which was drawn up in 2021 with the support of GIZ as part of the ABC-PADER programme. This methodology was also tested as part of the previous programme through the development of the LLUSDP for Ngong (Northern Region). This practical experience will therefore be put to good use in this module. In addition, the methodology will take into account the potential existence of ecosystem corridors in order to preserve ecological connectivity, which is essential for the movement of animal species, ecosystem regeneration and climate resilience. This will promote an inter-municipal vision of continuity between forests, protected areas, etc. The LLUSDP development process will be participatory, involving a range of stakeholders, including municipal authorities, the relevant sectoral administrations (MINEPAT, MINDDEVEL, MINDCAF, MINFOF, MINADER, MINEPIA MINMIDT, MINMIDT, MINTP, MINEPDED, etc.), traditional authorities, women, young people, etc. It will improve the determination of land uses and utilisation, leading to a reduction in land conflicts and pressure on forest resources. In addition, emphasis will be placed on the initial implementation of the validated LLUSDP with the subsequent development of implementation support plans. Ultimately, Output 4 is a fundamental lever for making the LLUSDP an operational tool for combating deforestation and land degradation, while strengthening territorial governance and the resilience of local communities.