Constraints to sustainable forest management of Africa's humid forests: the ATIBT experience. (1st March 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Connolly, C
• Is Part Of: International forestry review. Volume 8:Number 1(2006)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2006-03-01
• Subjects: 634.9
• DOI: 10.1505/ifor.8.1.78
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-7778

Abstract

The African resource, and in particular the Congo Basin contains the world's second largest forest area, after the Amazon, and there is a global concern for it to be sustainably managed. Practical solutions are essential if sustainable forest management is to be achieved, considering the costs and technical capacity involved. However, a certain number of difficulties must be overcome such as ill-adapted forestry laws, lack of necessary technical capacity amongst the managers and the actual cost of management. Solutions for sustainable forest management therefore include training and negotiations to better adapt legislation as well as practical issues such as reduced impact logging and the promotion of secondary species which will not only have a positive effect on the regeneration and management of the forest, but which are also more efficient in terms of costs. Certification is also a means of achieving a premium to offset the increased costs of sustainable forest management.