Congo Basin stakeholders convene to discuss landmark study on the impact of FSC® certification

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – A series of workshops aimed at disseminating groundbreaking research on the ecological impact of FSC certification in the Congo Basin kicks off today in Yaoundé, Cameroon at 10:00 in Djeuga Place Hotel.

The research, conducted by the University of Utrecht (UoU) and published in Nature (in April), compared animal populations in FSC-certified logging concessions to those in non-certified areas within Gabon and the Republic of Congo.

The workshops, co-organized by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), will bring together key stakeholders from across the Congo Basin. These stakeholders include representatives from government ministries, logging companies and associations, media outlets, and international organizations.

“The UoU study presents compelling evidence suggesting FSC certification can benefit large mammals in the region,” said Patrick Epie, Coordinator, FSC Congo Basin and West Africa. “These workshops offer a valuable platform to share these findings and foster discussions on how FSC practices can contribute to broader conservation efforts.”

Dr. Joeri Zwerts, the lead author of the study from the University of Utrecht, will be present at the workshops to present the research and engage in dialogue with stakeholders. Additionally, representatives from Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), a non-profit scientific research organization that conducts research on the use and management of forests, whose 2016 study explored the social impacts of FSC certification, are expected to participate.

The workshop in Yaoundé on June 24th is the first in a series designed to not only raise awareness about FSC’s impact on forest management but also generate wider media coverage to spark public conversation about the role of FSC certification in the Congo Basin.

In Gabon, FSC. WWF and WCS held the same kind of event on June 28 2024 at Hotel Nomad, in Libreville – Gabon. The final event will took place on July 3rd at the sidelines of the international conference on restoration and reafforestation organized by the government of the Republic of Congo in Kintele.

Source: FSC

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