Articles 



SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF MAMMALS IN MANAGED FOREST CONCESSIONS ON 

 THE OUTSKIRTS OF PROTECTED AREAS IN THE CONGO BASIN 



Project for the development of a practical evaluation and monitoring method for wildlife in ALPICAM forest 

 concessions at the outskirts of the Lobéké national park, Southeast of Cameroon 



Didier Bastin and Corinne Maréchaf 



Summary 



The paper reports the on-going and future implementation of a project about the development of a 

 practical evaluation and monitoring method of the status of mammals in ALPICAM forest concessions 

 on the outskirts of the Lobéké national park (Southeast of Cameroon). The objective is to develop a 

 management tool for large mammal fauna intended for forest managers and logging companies. 



Background 



Today it is an established fact that forests located outside protected areas (PAs), particularly production 

 forests, can play a key role in the conservation of wildlife in the Congo Basin (better efficiency of PAs, 

 reduction of the effects of habitats fragmentation, fight against poaching, etc). 



It is generally accepted that forest concessions located as set-aside areas can play a major and strategic 

 role in maintaining the PAs' integrity, both in view of their large area (role as buffer zone) and their 

 wildlife (role as reservoir and refiige) (Tutin et al. , 200 1 ). 



Moreover, since the 90s, the legal framework for logging in the sub region has evolved towards a better 

 integration of biodiversity. Henceforth, logging companies are subjected to development standards 

 integrating in a more or less detailed form the 'wildlife' component in their forest management activities 

 (Billande/a/.,2005). 



However, as regards large fauna, there is currently no inventory and monitoring standard adapted to the 

 specific situation of managed forest concessions. This lack of standardization could hinder the 

 realization of sustainable management objectives, that is an integrated (for example at the massif level) 

 and in the long term (monitoring) approach of the management of fauna in production forests (Maréchal, 

 2006). 



Moreover, the management efforts expected of timber operators require human and material resources. 

 However, these are limited in the specific context of forest industry and its various peculiar constraints. 

 Thus, logging companies are still very limited in terms of availability of resources to implement the 

 most appropriate approach on their concessions. 



ALPICAM recently launched a project aiming at making up for the lack in wildlife evaluation and 

 management in forest concessions. This article outlines the main aspects of this project. 



Objectives of the project 



Generally speaking, the project aims at establishing a management (inventory and monitoring) standard 

 for wildlife adapted to the context of forest exploitation, regarding both technical and financial means to 

 be mobilized and 'non-specialized' skills commonly available at logging companies level. 



Project Manager ALPICAM (ALPI group, Cameroon), Forest Management & Certification 

 B.P 2130 Douala, Cameroon. Tel. : +237 / 99 68 90 12. Email: didier.bastin@alpiwood.com 



University of Liège, Zoogeographical Unit, Belgium c/o Rue du M 

 Tel.: +32 / (0) 64 67 67 45. Email: corinne_marechal@hotmail.com 



University of Liège, Zoogeographical Unit, Belgium c/o Rue du Manège 54 ; B-7100 Saint- Vaast, Belgium. 



Nature & Faune Vol. 23, Issue 1 



