allocation of USD700,000 (about CFAF417,200,000) per year from the start of the construction works, to community projects; the deduction of 0.75% of net profits of each project company for the long-term financing of the community support fund for the development of the project impact area, at the level of social support; implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Plan, and the establishment of a local community support fund. 577- With regard to regional development, a study is underway since 2013 for production of master plan for the development of East and South Regions; the establishment of a Special East and South Regions Development Fund (SESRD); allocation of USD800,000,000 (about CFAF4,768,000,000,000) for 5 years from the start of construction works, for the construction of basic infrastructure. CAM-IRON will contribute USD100,000,000 (about CFAF59,600,000,000) and the State USD700,000,000 (about CFAF417,200,000,000) for the reference period; deduction of 0.75% from the commission of the mineral marketing company for the long-term financing of the SESRD; allocation of USD112,000,000 (about CFAF66,752,000,000) for the asphalting of the Mbalam - Kribi road project from the end of construction works. 578- Concerning forest resources, in addition to the analysis contained in the previous Report (§576-578), the Annual Forest Royalty331 (AFR), the quota of which is allocated to communities that were not included in the finance laws of 2015 and 2016 was restored in 2017 to the tune of 6.75% as against 10% previously. The global sum of CFAF42,500,000,000 332 over the period 20102014 was distributed as follows: 50% to the State, 10% to FEICOM, 20% to Forest Councils, and 10% to neighbouring communities. The sum increased from CFAF22,000,000,000333 in 2017 to CFAF24,000,000,000334 in 2018, while the forest tax witnessed an upturn during the reference year from CFAF5,000,000,000335 in 2017 to CFAF6,000,000,000336 in 2018. At the financial level, such upturn had a positive impact on job creation resulting in an increase in jobs from 34,000 in 2017 to 36,000 in 2018. 579- There is need to enhance the management of the AFR in many forest communities in Cameroon to obtain a significant impact on the development of the said communities. 580- The right to the free disposal of genetic resources was guaranteed as part of the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of the Benefits arising from their Utiliza tion. 581- The implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of the Benefits arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity focused on the following 3 thrusts: capacity development of stakeholders on the Nagoya Protocol, development of mechanisms on participation in the National Strategy on the Nagoya Protocol, and the development of genetic resources and traditional know-how. 582- The awareness-raising of stakeholders (researchers, university dons, representatives of institutes and the private sector) on the ABS process was conducted during successive meetings at both the national and the Central African Subregional levels. 583- Mechanisms on the participation in the National Strategy on the ABS were set up. Such is the Committee in charge of monitoring the drafting of laws and enabling instruments on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their 331 It is an annual area-based tax paid by the holder of a forest exploitation permit. The tax was instituted by the forest law of 1994. 332 About 64,885,496.18 Euros. 333 About 33,587,786.25 Euros. 334 About 36,641,221.37 Euros. 335 About 7,633,588 Euros. 336 About 9,160,305.5 Euros. 96

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