A training workshop for community forest managers on the use of SIGIF 2 for community forests was organized by SAILD on December 15-16, 2025, in Mbalmayo, in central Cameroon.
The objectives of this training workshop were to strengthen the capacities of community forest managers, clarify operational procedures related to the Forest Information Management System (SIGIF 2), and gather feedback on concerns encountered in the field in order to improve the use of the timber traceability application. Around 15 participants, mainly community forest managers, took part.
This initiative, implemented by the Support Service for Local Development Initiatives (SAILD), comes at an opportune moment, as De Souza Feujio, Head of the Natural Resource Management Program at SAILD, points out: “As part of the Biodiverse Landscape Fund – Western Congo Basin (BLF-WCB) program, the NGO SAILD is implementing actions aimed at strengthening local forest governance and improving the traceability of wood products from community forests in Cameroon. Following the Forestry Administration’s decision to make SIGIF 2 the sole official system for timber management and traceability, it became necessary to support community forest managers in effectively adopting this tool,” she said.
Understanding SIGIF 2
The meeting, which featured several presentations on SIGIF 2, particularly on the SIGIF 2 modules and its user guide, helped to strengthen the understanding and adoption of this tool by the main stakeholders involved. “We focused on the technical aspects to clarify the operational procedures, regulatory requirements, and best practices related to the use of SIGIF 2. The discussions also highlighted the structural and organizational constraints facing community forests, particularly in terms of financial resources, internal governance, and mastery of digital tools,” said Jerry Atontsa, SAILD Natural Resource Management Program Assistant.
According to him, this workshop was an essential step in the process of professionalizing community forest managers and improving knowledge in terms of legal timber traceability. “The lessons learned and recommendations made will serve as a basis for future capacity building and continuous improvement of the SIGIF 2 user guide, in line with the objectives of the BLF-WCB program and national forest policy guidelines,” he concluded.
However, at the end of the workshop, stakeholders noted the importance of ongoing support, both technical and institutional, to ensure the effective and compliant use of SIGIF 2, as well as the circulation of legal timber.
- Sharon Maché
