Cameroon and CIFOR Sign Agreement to Protect Forests

The Government of Cameroon and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) signed an agreement to guarantee the survival of Cameroon’s forests and the livelihood of people who depend on forests. “Cameroon is an important piece in the jig-saw puzzle of the six Congo Basin countries, which contain the world's second largest rainforest,” noted CIFOR's regional co-coordinator, Cyrie Sendashonga.

Central Africa’s Congo Basin harbors enormous plant and animal diversity. Its forests also contribute to the survival and livelihood of millions of people. According to the World Bank, forests around the world provide 1.6 billion people with food, fuel and other life-essentials. One in four western pharmaceuticals is also derived from rainforest ingredients.

For more information, contact Janneke Romijn at j.romijn@cgiar.org or visit http://www.cgiar.org/monthlystory/april2007.html.