Schedule 



Clarification of approach and methodology of the study April 2008 

 Collection and verification of information May- August 2008 



Synthesis of information and report writing July-September 2008 



Organization of workshop by COMIFAC to present results September-December 2008 



Expected outputs 



The report will be presented in two parts: 



• A summary of surveys administered to logging operators and other key actors in central Africa 

 subregion. It should outline current practices for the integration of biodiversity in forest 

 concessions as well as requirements to improve these practices and build capacity. This 

 summary will complement data from Forest Watch for Central Africa - OFAC (Observatoire des 

 Forêts d'Afrique Centrale). It is an observatory recently launched, with an initial support from 

 the European Union (EU) through the FORAF project. The project is intended to federate 

 partners of the Congo Basin Forests Partnership (PCBF) under the aegis of COMIFAC. 



• Based on the summary, assessment of the surveys, proposals will be put forth to reinforce and 

 harmonize practices for the integration of biodiversity in forest concessions in Central Africa. 

 These proposed actions will take into account initiatives in the sector at global, regional and 

 national levels. Aprogramme detailing some of the proposed actions will be identified and could 

 serve as a basis for a project proposal to be undertaken by FAO in collaboration with other 

 partners. Moreover, it could lead to the description of the main steps for a regional initiative for 

 the harmonization and reinforcement of the integration of biodiversity conservation in forest 

 concessions in the Congo Basin. 



Organizations involved in the study 



This study is currently being carried out through the analysis of interviews to which more than thirty 

 professionals of the sector (administrators, logging companies, NGOs, forest certification 

 organizations, consulting firms) participated from 20 May to 24 June 2008 in Cameroon, Gabon, 

 Congo, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo. 



Organizations met by FAO and 

 CIRAD: 



Observations 



The main objective in establishing a 

 forest concession remains the 

 production of timber for industrial 

 purposes. Through forest concessions 

 the State, as the owner of the forest, 

 transfers the right to exploit this 

 economic resource in exchange for 

 remuneration paid as a rent and a 

 variable profit depending on 

 production. The forest management 

 plan is the tool that brings into balance 

 the ecological functions of the forest 

 and the requirements of industrial 

 timber harvesting and 

 commercialization. Today, in view of 

 the international and local demand. 



Nature & Faune Vol. 23, Issue 1 



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