Other Collaborators
LAGA is a very collaborative institution working closely with national and international stakeholders on a range of issues relating to the illegal wildlife exploitation.
The most important partner in the project is the government of Cameroon, with which LAGA signed an MoU in early 2006 certifying the collaboration on these activities. The main government agency involved is the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), although other government agencies such as the Ministry of Justice and the Keeper of the Seals are also consulted on various issues and activities. Collaboration with MINFOF is on a weekly and sometimes daily basis, with MINFOF officers as well as police officers represented on the special enforcement unit. It is envisaged that over time MINFOF will take more and more direct control of the activities being developed in this project, until LAGA is able to withdraw from the project entirely with the activities being maintained solely by the government of Cameroon. The relationship with the government is so close that LAGA representatives are often placed on delegations (for instance on missions to South Africa or to the CITES CoP) as government representatives rather than NGO observers. Working closely at the Ministerial level also allows LAGA to help formulate policy and plan future activities
Since its inception, LAGA has relied on building cooperative relationships with its partner/collaborator organizations and entities. For example, as a member of governmental delegations to meetings of CITES, GRASP, and AFLEG (African Forest Law Enforcement and Governance), LAGA is kept aware of the broader problems in bushmeat trade and wildlife law enforcement that impact all of forest Africa. Specific organizations with which LAGA maintains regular communication include:
