West Africans Express Forest Governance Concerns

By Mike Anane

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, March 24, 2003 (ENS) - A workshop to develop civil society input for the Africa Ministerial Conference on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance scheduled for April 1 to 4 in Cameroon has ended in Ouagadougou.

The three day meeting which was organized by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) with sponsorship from the UK Department for International Development was attended by some 20 civil society members from Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Senegal, Togo, Liberia, Mali, and Guinea.

Trees in the dry northern part of Nigeria (Photo courtesy FAO)

At the preparatory workshop for civil society, participants brainstormed and shared experiences on forest law and governance issues in the region. Various case studies on illegal logging, timber trade, the bush meat crisis, and legal and institutional problems encountered in the drafting and implementation of forest laws enabled participants to get an insight into the problems and prospects of the countries represented at this workshop.

They noted with great concern the state of West Africa's forest resources, which continue to be threatened by bushfires and illegal logging, often with the connivance of corrupt government officials.

Participants unanimously agreed that sustainably managed forests are fundamental to good health, increased economic growth, productivity and environmental protection.

They strategized to articulate their positions in advance of the ministerial meeting in April. They discussed ways to ensure that the knowledge, experience and interest of participants are fully expressed at the ministerial meeting and sustained afterwards.

Eight workshop participants from Ghana, BurKina Faso, Nigeria, Senegal, Benin, Liberia, Guinea and Niger were elected to represent West African civil society members at the ministerial conference.

Water covers the roots of a tree in Guinea. (Photo courtesy Guinea Forum)

The participants called on their governments to develop clear national policies for the conservation of forests resources as integral parts of national strategies for sustainable development and poverty reduction, and to strengthen policies that may be working well already.

They stressed the need for networking among African civil society, and urged African leaders to partner with African civil organizations for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the AFLEG outcomes.

An action plan for citizens to influence decision makers in their respective countries - both before and after the ministerial conference - was also developed by the participants.

Addressing participants at the opening ceremony, the Burkinabe Minister of Environment Djiri Dakar highlighted the importance of forest resources which are the host ecosystems that permit the sustainability of life on Earth, and the need for Africa to conserve and sustainably use this heritage.

Environment Minister Djiri Dakar of Burkina Faso (Photo courtesy Office of the Minister)

Dakar indicated his government's commitment to combating forest related problems, and said he hoped that the processes underway in most West African countries would ultimately lead to making rural communities fully accountable for the management of their own resources.

He pointed out that such management should be undertaken in consultation with other stakeholders such as government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector.

"Already, I can confirm to you that we will speak the same language, because the objectives you are pursuing are also ours," said Dakar. "As a matter of fact, my department, just like you, is aware of the need to have an array of appropriate laws governing the exploitation of forests, a relevant setup for the dissemination and enforcement of such laws and mechanisms for the assessment, and periodic revisiting of the laws," the minister declared at the opening ceremony.

Over the past decade, some African governments have put sustainable forest management, particularly forest law enforcement and governance issues, high on their agenda. At international meetings they have indicated their intention to find lasting solutions to illegal activities in the forest sector, and also to ensure that their forests continue to remain renewable economic resources and hubs of biodiversity.

Gambia River (Photo courtesy USGS)

Already, preparations for the AFLEG meeting in Cameroon are underway in all sub-regions of Africa, and an increasing number of African governments have indicated their commitment to participate in the process.

The Africa Ministerial Conference on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance is expected to galvanize international commitment in Africa at a high political level in order to strengthen capacity for forest governance and law enforcement. Citizens representatives are particularly concerned about illegal logging, hunting, and associated trade on the African continent.

Donors, governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector are also expected to express their intent to intensify their support for forest governance and law enforcement in Africa.

The Africa Ministerial Conference on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance is being coordinated by the World Bank and sponsored by the governments of the United Kingdom, France and the United States.