What drives forest rule compliance behaviour in the Congo Basin? A study of local communities in Cameroon

Forest law compliance can play an important role in enhancing natural resource governance and advancing sustainable development. The role of compliance and the factors that affect it require better consideration in the planning and implementation of international forest policies. This study presents an analysis of factors that influence forest law compliance behaviour among local communities in Cameroon. The analysis is based on forest communities’ self-reported compliance with two forest rules in Cameroon, both of which are part of formal state forestry law. Original field data from 151 individual respondents in 6 villages located in easter and south-eastern Cameroon are analysed using logistic regression analysis. We find that several instrumental, normative, legitimacy and contextual factors affect the forest law compliance behaviour of local communities. A number of factors, including the perceived probability of detection and sanctions (instrumental), tradition/religion (normative), participatory rule making (procedural legitimacy) and property rights (contextual and governance related factors) are found to significantly influence local communities’ forest rule compliance behaviour. Our findings carry implications for the design and implementation of existing and future forest policies and interventions to manage forest resources sustainably in many parts of the world.