Sustainability of dense and humid African forests: the end of the tunnel or the crossing of the desert?
Africa's humid dense forests cover approximately 260 million ha and shelter a population of more than 200 million inhabitants. They represent an enormous potential for conservation and development of both the states and the populations concerned. But these forests can only contribute
effectively to sustained development if they, themselves, are managed in a sustainable manner. However, these forests continue to be the subject of constant degradation resulting from the pressure exerted by a generally poor population that is constantly growing and carrying out various activities
which are incompatible with environmental protection.
The management of Africa's humid dense forests is confronted with many difficulties of which the most important are: an insufficient knowledge of the resources available, a lack of technical options regarding sustainable management and conservation, conflict with populations, and institutional weakness in the majority of the countries, characterized by insufficient human and material capacity to permit forest administrations to face the requirements of a sustainable forest management.
Significant efforts to address these problems have been made in recent years and if current efforts are maintained and supported by the international community, and if firm measures are taken to ensure a greater participation of the populations and the private sector, then it is possible that the management of the humid dense forest in Africa is at a positive turning point in its history.
The management of Africa's humid dense forests is confronted with many difficulties of which the most important are: an insufficient knowledge of the resources available, a lack of technical options regarding sustainable management and conservation, conflict with populations, and institutional weakness in the majority of the countries, characterized by insufficient human and material capacity to permit forest administrations to face the requirements of a sustainable forest management.
Significant efforts to address these problems have been made in recent years and if current efforts are maintained and supported by the international community, and if firm measures are taken to ensure a greater participation of the populations and the private sector, then it is possible that the management of the humid dense forest in Africa is at a positive turning point in its history.
Keywords: African humid dense forests; forest conservation; forest legislation; sustainable management
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: Reforestation and Forest Management, International Tropical Timber Organization, International Organizations Center, 5th Floor, Pacifico-Yokohama 1-1-1, Minato-Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-0012, Japan.
Publication date: 01 March 2006
- The International Forestry Review is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that publishes original research and review papers on all aspects of forest policy and science, with an emphasis on issues of transnational significance. It is published four times per year, in March, June, September and December. Theme editions are a regular feature and attract a wide audience.
The IFR is part of The Global Forest Information Service - GFIS
International Forestry Review has an Impact Factor of 1.705 - Editorial Board
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