PROGRESS TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE FORESTRY IN THE CONGO BASIN: Experience with multi-actor approach Elie Hakizumwami, Regional Forest Officer WWF-Regional Programme for Central Africa WFC, Buenos Aires, October 18 – 23, 2009

IMPORTANCE OF CONGO BASIN FORESTS The world’s second contiguous tropical forest representing over 15 % (180 million hectares) of the world’s remaining tropical forest. Over 50% of the forest outside of protected areas are productive forests; Rich in oil, mines, gas, and fertile soil; Carbon sink and water reservoir

BIOLOGICAL CONTEXT Biological importance Conservation of biological diversity including flagship species (elephants, gorillas, bongos, etc.)

SOCIAL CONTEXT Population: More than 75 millions people inhabit the Congo Basin Approximately 30 millions people from over 150 ethnic group live in the forests; Settled or nomadic people

SOCIAL CONTEXT (continued) About 70% of people depend on forest products and services for their subsistence and income generation (bush meat, fruits, medicines, firewood, shelter, etc.)

SOCIAL CONTEXT (continued) Economically marginalized areas; Remote areas quasi abandoned by the governments Insufficient and/or poor basic infrastructure (schools, road network, power connection, airlines connection, etc.); Limited access to the market Drift from rural to urban areas

Key markets for timber from the Congo Basin: SE Asia : China, India, Thailand (45%) Southern Europe : France, Italy, Spain, Portugal (35%) Northern Europe : Netherlands, UK, Germany (10%) Rest of the world (10%) ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

DesignationCamerounCARCongoDRCGabon Annual timber production (average ): (m3x1000) Annual timber export (average ) Logs exported (x1000 m3) sawn timber exported (x1000 m3) veneer exported (x1000 m3) Plywood exported (x1000 m3) Total volume exported (x1000 m3) Direct formal Employment

March 2003 : Launch of GFTN-Central Africa (in Yaoundé, Cameroon)

Small Primates Elephants Apes Riverine Systems Crocodiles Freshwater fish communities Wetlands /Swamp Forests and associated Floodplain lakes Forests Biodiversity Targets Vision: By 2020, the [unique] forest, freshwater landscapes and species resources in the Green Heart of Africa are managed sustainably so that biodiversity is conserved, ecosystem functions and services are maintained, global climate is stabilized, and sustainable development and economic growth improves the livelihoods of the people of Central Africa Sustainable Financing Effective Governance LivelihoodsBushmeat and Wildlife Trade FreshwaterLand Use Planning Sustainable Forest Management and Timber Trade Extractives and Infrastructure Forest Carbon Finance Themes/key strategies [WWF] Goals 1. (Ecosystem conservation): By 2020, the biologically outstanding species and forest and freshwater ecosystems [and services] of the Congo Basin are conserved (protected, managed effectively), and supported with sustainable financing in at least 20%* (Ym ha) of each priority landscape 2. (Community incentives and empowerment for sustainable resource use): By 2020, local people manage their natural resources sustainably and share benefits equitably across X (more than 1, to be revised*) million hectares of priority landscapes. 3. (Extractives, infrastructure, foreign markets) By 2020, 50% of forests and waters impacted by extractives industries and infrastructures development are managed through independent certification or internationally recognized best practices. 4. (REDD/Forest carbon finance) By 2020, Forest cover is maintained at XX (year) baseline in 20% of priority landscapes through national and local REDD incentives provided by carbon markets. Transformational Outcomes 1. The natural resources in the Congo Basin are effectively conserved through sustainable financing mechanisms 2. Governance mechanisms are improved and made more effective, and ensure equitable distribution of benefits 3. The negative impacts of extractive industry and infrastructure developments on biodiversity and livelihoods are minimized THE GREEN HEART OF AFRICA NETWORK INITIATIVE

WHERE GFTN OPERATES? North America 2 countries South America & Caribbean 6 countries Asia / Oceania 7 countries Africa 6 countries Europe 9 countries Russia 32 countries

MAIN FOCUS Four (4) Congo Basin countries (Cameroon, Congo, CAR and Gabon) signed FLEGT-VPAs with the EU by 2010, Seven (7) millions hectares of Congo Basin Forests under credible certification and 5 millions in the process towards certification by 2012, Ill e gal Credible certification Compliance with national law GFTN

MAIN FOCUS Enabling conditions (advocacy, capacity building, tools) Management of (HCVs); Reduced Impact logging (Forest based Carbon); Improvement of livelihood of local communities; Market link for certified timber (MTNI); Strategic partnerships; Effective and strategic communication

KEY TARGET Logging companies Communities including indigenous people Government institutions Key buyer countries WWF Network Strategic partners

WHY RESPONSIBLE FORESTRY? Promote responsible forestry to reduce footprint

Awareness building for key actors, including decision makers to create conditions for government support to the promotion of responsible forestry ACTIVITIES (continued)

KEY ACTIVITIES (continued) Capacity building for key actors (auditors, logging companies staff,, staff from public administration, local NGOs, Individual experts; etc.);

KEY ACTIVITIES (continued) Market links between producers and buyers (countries and individual companies) for FSC certified timber

KEY ACTIVITIES (continued) Promotion of transparency and communication

KEY ACTIVITIES (continued) Regional consultation framework between key actors on credible certification in the Congo Basin

Support to the development of standards appropriate for Sustainable management and certification of forests in the Congo Basin (ATO/ITTO PCI; FSC Regional standard, Timber Legality standards) KEY ACTIVITIES (continued)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Seven companies totalling about 3.3 Millions hectares are Participants of GFTN-Central Africa Five companies totalling about 4 Millions hectares are Applicants to GFTN-Central Africa Almost 4.7 Million hectares certified in the Congo Basin including more than 2 Millions managed by GFTN Members; More than 2 Millions hectares of forests are subject of action plan implementation for the progress towards FSC certification;

STATUS OF FSC CERTIFICATION Country Total forest area (ha) Production forest (ha) Forest allocated for logging (ha) FSC certified forests since Dec 2005 (ha): status of July 2009 Cameroon (14%) CAR Congo (16%) DRC Equ. Guinea Gabon (18%) TOTAL (11%) We still have a long way to go!!!

STATUS OF FSC CERTIFICATION

EFFECTS Shift from logger Company to responsible manager Company Social infrastructures

EFFECT Better housing for employees Shift from Logger Company to Responsible Manager Company

EFFETS Establishment of consultation frameworks between logging companies and local communities: conflict resolutions: Management of HCVs and RIL Social responsibility

CHALLENGES Insufficient government institutional capacity for law enforcement; Challenging social and institutional context; Presence of important market for illegal and non certified timber; Lack of appropriate technology for maximum recovery percentage of timber transformation Remoteness of companies World financial crisis; High rate of illiteracy constitutes one of the major hindrance of local development;

PERSPECTIVES Pursue awareness building and recruitment of new companies; Provide timely technical support to companies; Facilitate regional reflection on credible certification in the Congo Basin involving representatives of key forestry players; Pursue promotion of market links between Central African countries and key timber buyer countries Provide support to FSC to ensure its effectiveness in the Congo Basin is provided; Provide support to FLEGT Process (validation of the standards for the verification of legality for (CAR, DRC and Gabon), capacity building for local NGOs, etc.) Promote partnerships with other organisations and institutions

STRATEGIC TECHNICAL PARTNERS ONG Locales

FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP

OPPORTUNITIES Political commitment:  Yaoundé Declaration  Heads of State Treaty  UN Resolution N° 54  Congo Basin Forests Partnership (CBFP);  EU-FLEGT Process  Governments support

OPPORTUNITIES (continued) Support from WWF Network Partnership with other organizations and key players  Collaboration with forestry Industry (IFIA, ATIBT)  Decentralization of Certification Bodies (SGS, VERITAS, SMARTWOOD): Cut down of the cost of certification.

OPPORTUNITIES (Continued) France’s commitment can also be seen in her decisions to ensure that public procurement of timber is now solely from certified producers, since eco-certification is one of the most effective instruments for the sustainable management of forest areas (President Jacques Chirac, Brazzaville, February 2005). Commitment of public market in certain countries to source certified timber

CONCLUSIONS Strategic partnership involving key actors (Government Institutions, Financial partners, Environmental NGOs, Logging companies, Research institution, Training Institutions, Local communities, Individual resource persons Pragmatic and multi-actor approach is necessary to promote responsible forestry Involvement of the governments in the process of promotion of forest certification is critical because of their role in creating enabling conditions for the success of forest certification. FSC certification contributes to development of forests people. However, the development of forest people is a long-term process and needs huge resources which some time go beyond company’s financial capacity; Some issues of FSC certification such as HCVF and RIL are still new in the Congo Basin. Capacity building on them is very necessary.

CAN FSC CERTIFICATION BE A SOLUTION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FORESTS PEOPLE? YES, BUT… Development of forest people is a long-term process and needs huge and sustainable financing; FSC certification alone can never be a solution to the development of local communities. Certification must be seen as part of the global sustainable development strategy involving different actors; With responsible companies, FSC certification can only contribute but the needs of people some time go beyond company’s financial capacity; Certification must not overshadow the government’s responsibility to take care of development of her people in rural areas; Good governance and effective law enforcement are instrumental for the success of responsible forestry. This is responsibility of public administration (Government).