Ongoing study on the integration of biodiversity concerns in management 

 of forest concessions in Central Africa 



Oudara Souvannavong , Alain Billana , Jean-Claude Nguinguiri and Jérôme Fournier 

 Summary 



Central Africa is home to the world's second largest contiguous tropical rainforest, after Amazon. 

 Depending on countries in the sub-region, between 10% to 15% (Nasi, Cassagne, Billand, 2006) of the 

 forests' surface area is occupied by protected areas. Production forests represent 65%> of the forests 

 and have an enormous potential for biodiversity conservation. The important role played by 

 production forests in maintaining biodiversity should be improved through increasing the percentage 

 of forests that have management plans that take into account the different functions of the forest. 



FAO and CIRAD (the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) have assessed the 

 status ofintegration ofbiodiversity and are striving to identify the difficulties encountered in this area. 



This study is based on bibliographic research, documents such as management plans, forest 

 regulations, national guidelines and a survey of professionals (administration, logging companies, 

 consulting firms, NGOs and forest certification agencies) carried out from May to June 2008 in five 

 countries of Central Africa. 



Following analysis of the collected information and their validation, concerted actions and a set of 

 programmes will be proposed to reinforce and harmonize practices for better integration of 

 biodiversity conservation concerns in production forests of Central Africa subregion. 



Introduction 



Tropical forests are the most important custodians of terrestrial biodiversity essential for the 

 maintenance of species' ability to adapt to environmental changes and changes in users' needs, and to 

 support the functions of ecosystems. Moreover, tropical forests are the most threatened. In Central 

 Africa subregion, depending on countries, between 1 0% to 1 5% of forests are categorized as protected 

 area while production forests represent 65% of the forest ecosystem (Nasi, Cassagne, Billand, 

 2006).Thus, forests that are not formally protected have an enormous potential for biodiversity 

 conservation. 



Logging companies are now required by Law to contribute to biodiversity conservation (management 

 plans are now obligatory) and they also have the option to embark on eco-certification. Within this 

 context, FAO and CIRAD have launched a study on the integration of biodiversity conservation in 

 forest concession management in Central Africa. In the framework of their collaboration with the 

 Central Africa Forest Commission (COMIFAC) to implement COMIFAC's Convergence Plan, FAO 

 and CIRAD have initiated a subregional study with major stakeholders in the sector (forest 

 adminisfrations, logging operators in the private sector and their partaers) in order to assess the status 

 of current practices (even without management plans) in central Africa. This study also seeks to 

 identify the problems and consfraints in addressing biodiversity issues in forest concessions and 

 shorter term timber harvesting permits/licenses in central Africa. 



Forestier principal. Service de la conservation des forêts, FAO, Rome (Italie). * 

 Courrier électronique: oudara.souvannavong@fao.org 



Chef Unité de Recherche, Ressources forestières et politiques publiques 

 CIRAD, Montpellier (France). Courrier électronique: alain.billand(q),cirad.fr ,., 



Fonctionnaire forestier. Bureau sous -régional de la FAO pour l'Afrique Centrale 

 Libreville (Gabon). Courrier électronique: jeanclaude.nguinguiri@fao.org ■■ . , 



"* Service de la conservation des forêts, FA O, Rome (Italie) 

 Courrier électronique: jerome.foumier@fao.org . • ' 



Nature & Faune Vol. 23, Issue 1 51 



