Prise en compte de la biodiversité dans les concessions forestières d'Afrique centrale

Tropical forests are the largest reserves of terrestrial biodiversity, which is essential for maintaining the potential of species to adapt to changes in the environment or in user demand, and for supporting ecosystem services. Tropical forests are also under the greatest threat, yet less than 12% of the total area is currently protected. Production forests, which make up a major share of the remaining 88%, thus have significant potential in terms of biodiversity conservation.

In central Africa, which houses the world's second largest tropical rainforest, the past decade has seen an increase in the extent to which biodiversity is taken into account when managing forestry concessions. This situation is linked to the growing importance of a specific tool, forest management plans, which are increasingly being used as part of new forestry policies and legislation in the countries of the sub-region.

This study set out to take stock of and learn from past experiences, identifying the constraints and making recommendations as to what to do in order to support and harmonize practices aimed at conserving biodiversity as effectively as possible within the production forests of central Africa. The study was based on a survey of 26 forestry firms, along with official services, research consultancies and NGOs in the countries of the sub-region.

Prise en compte de la biodiversité dans les concessions forestières d'Afrique centrale
A. Billand, J. Fournier, L. Rieu, O. Souvannavong
CIRAD, Montpellier - FAO, Rome
2010
102 p.