The Central African Republic is amongst the poorest countries on the planet, and its population has been faced with violence and conflict for several years. Despite the fragile nature of the security and humanitarian situation, which still plagues the country, recent positive developments within the forest sector could be the precursor to a transition towards good governance.
It’s a myth that money doesn’t grow on trees — a glance at any timber baron’s bank balance would confirm that. But for people living near tropical forests it has long been clear that when money flows to logging companies, there is little left behind for local development. Now, in Liberia, that is all changing, thanks in part to a trade deal called a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) the country negotiated with the EU.
Just over a decade ago, Liberia’s forest sector was synonymous with crime and conflict. President Charles Taylor had looted the country’s forests to fund two civil wars and further bloodshed across the border in Sierra Leone. Illegal logging was rife.
A partnership between the EU and Liberia tackles illegal logging by improving forest governance. Rivercess, the eighth largest county in Liberia, is a paradox. The area is rich with forests, fish, gold and promise, but its people are still desperately poor. Local resident Matthew T. Walley is President of the National Union of Community Forest Development Committees. He understands better than most how the forests that cover nearly half of Liberia have brought suffering, not wealth, to the people who live in them.
The EU is using its regional programme ECOFAC 5, which focuses on fragile ecosystems, to promote FLEGT throughout the Economic Community of Central African States.
A regional FLEGT unit is in place to help facilitate and coordinate regional activities relating to VPA implementation (Cameroon, Central African Republic and Congo) or negotiations (Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon).
In April, a team of EFI experts helped establish a positive atmosphere of confidence and teamwork in the regional FLEGT unit. EFI offered support to guide and finalise the unit’s work plan for July 2013 to June 2015.
The activities planned concentrate on four main aspects:
Some activities for engaging the private sector are underway, with outcomes expected later this year.
SEFCA
European Forest Institute
Flore de Preneuf, PROFOR
European Forest Institute