Ill-timing, Blind Budget Killed 80 Million Tree Project

In 2006, when government, through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, launched a nationwide tree planting campaign, it was a rather boring affair. Many people found little to get excited about. It was a good thing though; no news really was good news. 
By AZORE OPIO
In Cameroon, people fall, perhaps too quickly, into the cynical habit of seeing any move by government as mired in stagnation. While there are lots of supporting evidence for this grim realism, it obscures the real story of the nationwide urban reforestation.
In itself, the first tree planting project launched by the then Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, achieved little that was new. It did, nonetheless, serve as a historical marker of a progressively transforming attitude towards “the national need for the implementation of an effective and efficient forest regeneration programme as well as identifying all the actors involved in the process.”
How much of the credit for the failure of the reforestation is due government? 
According to a South West Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife official, they planted close to 16.000 trees, while the Buea Council said it planted close to 10.000 trees – from Muea to Bokwaongo and Buea Town.
Some of the trees were planted around the Borstal Institute in Bokwango and in Mbalangi along the Kumba road.
A survey carried out by The Green Vision indicates that barely 600 of those trees planted along the main highway – Buea Town to Mile 17 roundabout survived.
The funding, disbursed by the government, which was to cover a three-year period-ending in 2012, was supposed to support climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in equal measure.

How much money was sunk into the tree planting project in the South West?
“In 2010, government dispatched about 30 million francs cfa for tree planting through the Tenders Board at the Governor’s office. Then the following year, some 51 million francs cfa were once more disbursed,” an official at the South West Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife told The Green Vision. Regrettably, the official said there was no follow-up.
He disclosed that the seedlings had been nursed for between one and two years but “when it was time to transplant them, their root systems were already out of the polythene bags. Their survival chances were very low.” He said, “This, plus shock and stress while in storage and during transportation from nursery to the planting grounds, as well as lack of professional handling greatly reduced the chances of survival.”
Another official from the South West Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife posited that “Urban forestry is quite different from rural forestry. Activities concerning urban forestry need to be well coordinated.” The hurdle for the tree planting project according to him “seems to be a lack of knowledge among the top-ranking policy makers.”
According to the South West Delegate of Forestry and Wildlife, Eben Ebai Samuel, the first budgets for the tree planting did not include post-planting activities.“Only funds to buy seedlings and plants were provided with no funds to maintain the planted seedlings. Most of the seedlings were therefore bound to die.” He divulged adding that “this year is different as funds have been provided for both planting and follow-up”
Mr. Eben said the period (October) for planting was ill-timed; “It was the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry spell.” He added that in 2012, the Delegation planted 8.000 trees in Buea. 
After learning the hard way how trees are planted and maintained, government set out in 2012 with a refined budget and actors.
Under the theme “Planting a Tree is Contributing to the Promotion of a Green Economy,” in order to provide environmental services such as the fight against pollution, the regulation of microclimate, soil stabilisation and to meet the demand in wood for fuel, construction and other services,” government identified four categories of awards – with councils receiving 5 million each for the planting of 4000; councils receiving 1 million francs cfa each for the maintenance of established forest plantations; NGOs and CIGs receiving 3 million each for the planting of 2.400 trees and NGOs, CIGs receiving sylvicultural materials and equipment.
The following councils were awarded 5 million each from the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife – Alou, Idenau, Akwaya, Tombel and Konye.
Bangem and Kumba Councils each received 1 million for the maintenance of existing plantations or trees planted along roadsides.
Some of the organisations which received funds for the planting of 2.000 trees were – Cameroon National Youth Council; 4 million, PEESDA, AYUKEBA FORESTRY KUMBA and AGROFORESTRY BUFOFA KUMBA; 3 million for forest plantation establishment.
This totals to 44 million francs cfa to be distributed after the signing of financial conventions between the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and the councils or civil society organisations. 
Where does Cameroon’s National Assembly Speaker fit into all this?
Towards the end of 2012, Hon. Cavaye Yegue Djibril left his cosy office at the National Assembly House and journeyed to the North West Region to launch tree planting there.
Sometime in December of the same year, the Speaker travelled to the South West and launched tree planting in Buea and Bombo Bakundu.
Some 2000 environmentally friendly trees are expected to be planted along the slopes of Mt. Fako (Mt. Cameroon) and elsewhere in the Region.
It is curious that it was the National Assembly Speaker who was hot about cooling rising temperatures by planting trees.
“It has been discovered that the people don’t seem to trust the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, and NGOs as well as, so some dignitaries have been identified to spearhead the tree planting project,” said a government official.