The RSPO PalmGHG tool can be modified to suit specifics of different countries around the world, which creates an opportunity to test it in Cameroon. Cameroon is one of Africa’s top palm oil producers producing about 269,000 tons of palm oil in 2018 with an average growth rate of 3.5 % per year in the last decade ( FAO, 2019 ).
Where does Cameroon’s palm oil come from?
Most of the imported palm oil comes from Indonesia, Malaysia and Gabon. For several years, Cameroon has been faced with a dilemma: boosting productivity without jeopardizing sustainably.
Does Cameroon need more palm oil?
Cameroon’s current palm oil production still does not meet its current demand as about 21 % of the palm oil used is imported ( FAO, 2019 ). The government of Cameroon’s 2030 national development plan involves increasing current palm oil production at a rate yet to be determined.
What are Luc dynamics for oil palm cultivation in Cameroon?
LUC dynamics reported by the six mills for oil palm cultivation involved conversion from undisturbed forest, disturbed forest, tree crops like cocoa and sometimes, replanting of old oil palm stands. Studies have shown twice as much oil palm expansion into forests compared to other land use classes in Cameroon ( Ordway et al., 2019 ).