To develop a rational timber harvesting system, with the emphasis on restriction of logging damage, improvement of efficiency of operations in the forest and sound interaction of logging operations with the local population. The harvesting system to be designed should ensure mid- and long-term regeneration capacity of the remaining forest stand to enable future economically acceptable harvesting levels.To indicate to what extent the introduction of such a system would be feasible under Cameroonian conditions.To develop a practical guide, introducing the proposed logging system to potential users. A separate annex to this manual will deal with possible timber exploitation and processing techniques for local forest inhabitants.

The actual logging practice is described, an improved (based on the Reduced Impact Logging concept) system has been developed and tested and its implementation has been discussed. Changes in hydrology and soil due to forest exploitation are described.

• Hout, P. van der & Leersum, G.J.R. van (1998). Reduced impact logging: a global panacea? In: Tropenbos. Research in tropical rain forests: its challenges for the future. Pp 185-202 (more)
• Jonkers, W.B.J. (ed.) (2000). Logging, damage and efficiency: a study on the feasability of Reduced Impact Logging in Cameroon. Tropenbos Cameroon report 00-03