Regional project to promote Reduced Impact Logging in the Congo Basin (Phase 1)

Gabon

There has been an increasing interest in reduced impact logging (RIL) as one of ITTO’s priorities in relation to Objective Year 2000. RIL projects have been implemented in Adia and South America. This policy focus derives from the general consensus about the necessity to manage forests more sustainably, and a recognition that better technology is now available to monitor harvesting practices and forest conditions. There is a general desire to reduce negative environmental impacts all the way down to the operational level. It is also generally recognized that many conventional logging systems will not continue to produce sustainable yields of the same volume and quality of timber if harvesting techniques are not improved. In addition the demand for timber from certified forests is increasing and certification schemes are requiring responsible harvesting practices.

In spite of the recognition that RIL practices can reduce the negative impacts on the environment, conventional forest logging methods are still prevalent in Africa. In this regard, this project intends to pave the way for various stakeholders to undertake a coordinated action to implement and integrate RIL concepts and techniques adapted to the specific Congo Basin conditions. Its development objective is to promote and achieve sustainable forest management among the logging companies in the Central African Region comprising Cameroon, Centralafrican Republic, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon by implementing the RIL practices incorporating fauna conservation concerns. The specific objectives are (1) Raising the awareness and promotion of RIL in the region through, inter alia, demonstrating the opportunities and feasibilities of RIL under different conditions; and (2) The provision and improvement of the complete range of RIL courses in the region and the creation of training capacities including through building those of existing vocational training institutes.

To ensure long-term RIL practices, schools and national institutes and vocational training centers will be used as permanent RIL training facilities. Preferably such facilities will have established one or two RIL model forests for training. Training will be based on modules covering the entire range of RIL components. Each module covers one RIL component specific to each target group, for example governmental agencies, professionals, managers, operations managers/executives, workers/operators and drivers. At the completion of the project, it is expected, among other things, that conventional logging will be replaced by RIL in large sections of the Gabonese territory. Concessionaires and contractors will hire RIL-trained personnel and will apply RIL techniques in their forest operations. At the regional level, Governments will have included RIL as a condition for skillful forest management and the granting and management of a forest concession. The project will provide specific guidance and references in order to facilitate better monitoring for the certification purpose.

The project beneficiaries will be (1) the governments which will collect more revenues, conserve biodiversity and protect fauna, (2) Forest enterprises who will improve timber yield from their harvesting operations and have access to environment sensitive markets, (3) Forest workers who will have improved health, security and earnings, (4) Forest dependent people who will have a guaranteed availability of NTFP for their needs.