Removing Log Jams

　　As environmental preservation takes a moreprominent role in global planning, China is makingmassive investments in African forestry, helping thecontinent to improve governance of its timber trade andsustainable forest management.

　　The mutual partnership led to the formation of theChina-Africa Forest Governance Learning Platform(FGLP). Its aim is to strengthen forestry governancethrough information sharing and developing stronger,deeper links among diverse stakeholders. FGLP isinspired by already existing international regimes onforests like the Convention on Biological Diversity,Convention to Combat Desertification, United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change and KyotoProtocol.

　　FGLP currently has links with Cameroon, Uganda,DRC, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi,Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, allof which are gaining from China’s experience in forestrymanagement.

　　Hosted by the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF),FGLP borrows from China’s forestry policy reforms introducedin 1978 to advance sustainable forest management,ensuring African forests are socio-economicallybeneficial. The international alliance promotes policymakingthat serves forest-dependent communitiesand sustainability. It also enables researchers and forestspecialists from Africa and China to share information onforestry issues.

　　FGLP’s inaugural March 2013 meeting in Beijingresolved that any Chinese investments in Africa’s forestsare environmentally sustainable and beneficial to localcommunities. The meeting identified priorities such asjoint research on effective forest management. The secondFGLP meeting in Africa in 2014 will review progressmade in the past year.

　　The July 2013 FGLP status report showed China isnow the top importer of timber from several Africannations. The report said FGLP has improved forestgovernance by sharing Chinese guidelines with Africanstakeholders including civil society, private sector andgovernments.

　　Henri Djombo, Republic of Congo Minister of SustainableDevelopment, Forest Economy and Environment,said the project has provided financial, technical andscientific support to African forestry. Djombo said FGLPis tackling illegal logging in the vast but unprotectedAfrican forest resources. “Illegal logging seriously threatensgood forest governance in Africa. Weak, underresourcedor corrupt governments can limit a country’scapacity to monitor and regulate traceability,” he said.

　　Matthew V.Cassetta, Facilitator of the Congo BasinForest Partnership (CBFP), said this collaboration will addresscritical threats to biodiversity and forests like illegallogging, unsustainable resource extraction, and wildlifetrafficking.

　　“By promoting dialogue on forests conservation andsustainable management in Africa, FGLP will ensurestronger compliance with laws protecting forests andlocal benefits. Through joint research and action, bothsides will develop and strengthen responsible purchasingpolicies and legal sourcing of sustainably harvestedtimber,” he said.

　　It also proactively engages with the private sector toimprove forest governance, such as securing local rights,developing forest product legitimacy and combatingclimate change. FGLP is concerned with illicit trade inforestry products and other natural resources normallyexploited by criminals and China is supporting legislationsrequiring companies sourcing forestry productsfrom Africa to prove their conflict free origin to discourageillegal exploitation of natural resources.

　　James Mayers from the International Institute forEnvironment and Development (IIED) and FGLP facilitatorsaid African commodities boom is in full swing,stimulated greatly by Chinese market demand andgrowing Chinese investment in Africa’s forests and timber.

　　Mayers said there has been rapid growth of Chineseinvestment in Africa forestry, from less than $500 million2003 to $22.9 billion in 2012. This is contrary to thecriticism of China’s role in Africa only being focused onextractive industries and plundering of the continent’svast resources.