Sustainable forest management practice in Central African States and customary law

Abstract

Sustainable forest management (SFM) has become a major focus for the international community. This is because of the multifunctional importance of forest resources for the entire planet, namely ecological, socio-economic, cultural and climatic balance. General awareness of forest importance unfortunately coincides with the observed increase in threats, especially anthropogenic, to this world heritage. To tackle the continuing deforestation and degradation, the international community, through the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and its predecessors, has attempted to adopt an international convention on SFM based on the 15 Rio Declaration principles. The limited success of international negotiations aimed at the adoption of such an instrument leads us to seek an alternative within international law theories, through analysis of the relationship between states practice in SFM and customary international law. To this end, this paper focuses on the practice of Central African States in sustainable forest management, especially statement of principles, sub-regional treaty and domestic legislation. The analysis shows that their practice fulfils all the requirements in order to be regarded as regional custom. Therefore, principles and state practices of SFM can thus be considered legally binding for this sub-region, despite some major implementation shortcomings.

Influence of FSC certification on the governance of the logging sector in the Congo basin

“…No precise definition of forest governance was provided to the interviewee to avoid imposing any a priori categorization that might limit the field of inquiry, but we recalled that the common governance principles are accountability, effectiveness, efficiency, equity, participation, transparency, coordination, and capacity (Davis, Williams, Lupberger, & Daviet, 2013; Hart, 2011). It was also recalled that most forest governance efforts in Central Africa have focused on the management of logging concessions to improve transparency (Karsenty, 2017a; Topa et al, 2010), accountability (German, Karsenty, & Tiani, 2010), contribution to biodiversity protection (Bruggeman, Meyfroidt, & Lambin, 2015; Nasi, Cassagne, & Billand, 2006), and the rights and livelihoods of rural populations (Assembe Mvondo, 2009; Lescuyer, Mvongo‐Kene, Monville, Elanga‐Voundi, & Kakundika, 2015). After this reminder, respondents were free to propose concrete and specific aspects of forest governance changes in the context of Central African concessions since 2000.…”

A Review of the Advances Made in Improving the Durability of Welded Wood against Water in Light of the Results of African Tropical Woods Welding

“…13 C-NMR spectra of treated (40% citric acid) and untreated (0% citric acid) samples [82] According to Lescuyer et al [90], local wood consumption is about 755 000 m 3 per year, of which, more than 90% of this volume is in the form of boards, formwork, and rafters, intended for use in construction. This local wood consumption is also used to supply a wide range of items targeted to meet the needs of urban consumers in local markets [91][92][93]. The five most locally consumed species, accounting for about 70% of local sales, are Ayous (Triplochyton scleroxylon), which is by far the most consumed with 35% of sales; followed by Movingui (Distemonanthus benthamianus), Iroko (Milicia excelsa), Sapelli (Entendrophragma cylindricum) and Bilinga (Nauclea diderichii) [85].…”

Local Communities’ and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights to Forests in Central Africa: From Hope to Challenges

“…The Treaty on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa, which established COMIFAC, came into force in late 2007 after its ratification by two-thirds of the parliaments of the ten member states. 4 It serves as the constitution of the subregional regime of the Congo Basin forest resources (Assembe-Mvondo 2009). In addition, two other important legal instruments were adopted during the meeting of COMIFAC's Council of Ministers held in Brazzaville in October 2008namely, the Subregional Agreement on Forest Control in Central Africa, and the Subregional Guidelines on the Sustainable Management of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP).…”