management plan for natural production forests in tropical Africa. In Part I of this study, 'ITTTA Forest 

 production' was edited in 2001 and revised in 2006. Part II was focused on social aspects and a third on 

 the integration offaunal aspects in concessions was later added. These technical documents integrate 

 environmental and biodiversity issues at the level of the study, analysis, decision making and 

 formulation of management standards and procedures. 



The challenge of this study is to identify the different methods currently used by enterprises, during the 

 different phases of study and analysis that led to the environmental orientations until their application 

 in the logging concessions. The primary objective of this study is to assess the current situation on 

 biodiversity integration in the logging companies (with or without management plans) in central 

 Africa, by recording problems encountered by logging operators in the field. The second objective is 

 related to the identification of needs for better management of biodiversity. 



Method and programme 



Information is collected (through documentary studies and surveys, and when necessary through field 

 visits taking advantage of synergies with other FAO and CIRAD-led projects) in order to assess the 

 integration of biodiversity into forest concessions in Central Africa, especially concerning the 

 following points: 



• Achievements in collecting biodiversity data : concessions involved, methodologies, typology 

 of existing data, with issues of rights to access data (public/private) for science and for 

 biodiversity managers and decision makers ; 



• Biodiversity management practices in concessions: measures taken in management plans, 

 operational measures for low-impact timber harvesting, control measures and internal system 

 for sanctions against staff, etc . ; 



• State of the art for the periodic monitoring of biodiversity in concessions. The establishment of 

 monitoring is a must in the case of a certification procedure as certification is a pressing issue 

 for companies exporting to other countries. However this procedure is based on systems of 

 criteria and indicators that are imprecise, subject to various interpretations 

 among auditors due to a poor state of the art; 



• Emerging interactions between concessions and protected areas; need to search for long-term 

 partnerships; 



• Institutional arrangements and capacities for the integration and monitoring of biodiversity in 

 concessions; 



• A more global integration of biodiversity, for example in tracks of forests, according to a 

 coherent territorial approach, taking into account groups of concessions in homogenous or 

 complementary blocks. 



Various types of documents were consulted, such as international reports, national regulations and 

 guidelines, texts to facilitate application of decrees, inventory reports and available forest management 

 plans. - - \ ■'' / ' 



Following each interview, the completed questionnaire is edited by a member of the team and returned 

 to the interviewee for verification and additional information. The study is based on discussions with 

 practitioners and stakeholders in the sector. During a second phase, the initial results will be presented 

 to participants to cross check sources and gather comments while verifying the initial hypothesis. The 

 set of data processed and analyzed will be synthesized and presented during a sub-regional workshop to 

 be held at the end of 2008. This workshop which will bring together key active stakeholders will 

 provide fresh opportunity to collect additional views and suggestions. ^, . ^ 



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Nature & Faune Vol. 23, Issue 1 / 53 



